Okonjo-Iweal under attack for not sharing pictures of Tinubu at Paris summit
2 min read
President Bola Tinubu and Dr Okonjo-Iweal
Nigeria’s former minister of Finance and Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has given the reason why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not included in the first set of pictures of the Paris Global Financial summit which she shared on her official Twitter handle.
The economic guru had come under criticism after posting pictures of herself with other world presidents that attended the economic summit.
The photographs showed how she was interacting with the Presidents of Brazil, Senegal, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, and Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia.
Ngozi in the first round of pictures she posted on Twitter page which Tinubu was omitted was captioned, “More images from the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris. With HE President @LulaOficial HE President @Macky_Sall HE President @CyrilRamaphosa and HE President @HHichilema #NewGlobalFinancingPact“.
Meanwhile, following the omission of President Tinubu from the pictures she shared, aggrieved supporters of the president took to the comment section to attack her.
They said her actions diminished the importance of Tinubu’s attendance at the meeting.
Amid the criticisms, she uploaded photographs where she appeared with President Tinubu and other set of leaders at the summit.
“More images from the Paris Summit #NewGlobalFinancingPact. With HE President Ali Bongo @PresidentABO, HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT, HE President @WilliamsRuto and African Business moguls @Mo_IbrahimFdn @TonyOElumelu,“ she wrote alongside the pictures.
But the criticisms could not end despite sharing pictures of Tinubu having a handshake with her at the summit.
However, in order to calm strain nerves, Okonjo-Iweala posted a tweet where she explained reason for the initial omission.
“Nigerians please relax! Re Paris, Interesting attacks from both sides. Sadly shows the depth of polarization in our society. I post photos in the order received by accompanying staff or colleagues. Reading more into it is unwarranted. Let’s unite to build our country not attack!,” she wrote.
