Former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has denied media reports and campaigns linking her with the 2019 presidential election.
A fake poster showing her as potential running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had gone viral on social media prompting questions about her political ambition.
Speaking through a statement signed by her spokesperson, Paul Nwabuikwu, in Abuja on Tuesday, the 62-year-old former managing director of the World Bank urged Nigerians to ignore the campaign.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to speculative media stories linking former Minister of Finance, Dr Okonjo-Iweala with the next presidential election scheduled to hold in 2019.
“In an effort to invest their efforts with phony credibility, those behind the project have even gone to the extent of designing a fake campaign poster embossed with her image.
“This is to clarify that Dr Okonjo-Iweala who is busy with important international duties has absolutely nothing to do with these speculations and activities.
“She has neither discussed nor endorsed them with anybody.
“We urge the Nigerian media and public to ignore this mischievous exercise and its sponsors.”
Okonjo-Iweala was recently honoured with the Global Fairness Award in Washington DC, United States of America.
The award was presented to her by the Global Fairness Initiative in recognition of her contribution to sustainable development, and her focus on implementing development programs that benefit the poor and less privileged.
