[img]http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20120413&t=2&i=594491849&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=CBRE83C1R2N00[/img]



(Reuters) - Former Colombian finance minister Jose Antonio Ocampo on Friday withdrew his candidacy for World Bank president, leaving two candidates in a race that he said had turned highly political.

[size=18pt]With the World Bank board meeting on Monday to pick a new president, Ocampo said he hoped emerging market nations would rally behind one candidate, Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.[/size]

Okonjo-Iweala is now the sole candidate from developing nations in a race against U.S. nominee Jim Yong Kim, a Korean-American health expert who appears almost certain to win the post.

Ocampo said his candidacy had been "handicapped" by a lack of support from his own country.

"It is clear that the process is shifting from a strict merit-based competition, in which my candidacy stood on strong grounds, into a more political-oriented exercise," he said in a statement.

"In this process, I stand on weaker grounds due to the lack of open support from the government of my home country, Colombia," he added.

Ocampo said he did not believe the selection process had been fully open, transparent and merit-based, but it had established a strong precedent for future elections.

However, Ocampo's decision to leave the race does not mean all developing countries will support Okonjo-Iweala in a straw poll on Monday when the World Bank board tries to find consensus on a successor to Robert Zoellick, who is departing in June.

Indeed, the promise of a united front from emerging markets evaporated on Friday when Russia said it would support Kim, becoming the first major emerging economy to do so.

"Taking into account Mr. Kim's considerable professional qualities as well as his experience and knowledge, the Russian Federation will support the candidacy of Jim Yong Kim during the voting by the bank's board of directors," the Russian Finance Ministry said in a statement.

With their candidates, emerging market nations are seeking to challenge U.S. leadership at the bank to increase their influence in global economic institutions long controlled by rich nations.

Under a informal agreement, the World Bank has always been headed by an American and the IMF by a European.

While Kim is still the favorite to win the World Bank presidency because of his backing from the United States and European countries, a rigorous challenge from emerging market countries could put them in a stronger position to extract concessions favorable to their interests. It also increases their odds of winning senior jobs in the future.

The final decision could come down to political horse-trading and alliances.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/13/us-brazil-worldbank-idUSBRE83C0T720120413

Biafra, Biafra... Haters from oduduwa repulblic can kill themselves

Mr. Globe:
Biafra, Biafra... Haters from oduduwa repulblic can kill themselves

Ode,must u tribalise everzthing?

This sounds more political than merit, i know most developed and some developing nations will support Mr Jim cos of American influence, all the same my support goes to NOI.

Mr. Globe:
Biafra, Biafra... Haters from oduduwa repulblic can kill themselves

Stop this shit.

WHO BE THE MUMU SEPERATIST AND TRIBAL BIGOT THAT IS YARNING NONSENSE? ON NOI WE STAND AND PLS NAIJA MUST STOP THIS CULTURE OF DIVISION BASED ON CREED LET US EMPHASISED MERIT AND COMPETENCE IN OUR NATIONAL LIFE. LONG LIVE NIGERIA!!!!!!

Mr. Globe:
Biafra, Biafra... Haters from oduduwa repulblic can kill themselves

why must you tribalize everything? Is this the way to move foreward...

slyopez: This sounds more political than merit, i know most developed and some developing nations will support Mr Jim cos of American influence, all the same my support goes to NOI.

I agree with you.[img]http://www.lzxin.info/g.php[/img]

slyopez: This sounds more political than merit, i know most developed and some developing nations will support Mr Jim cos of American influence, all the same my support goes to NOI[size=13pt][/size].

I'm sure you'd agree that it's a bit ambitious and slightly delusional to assume your support for any candidate goes any further past your laptop.

Mr. Globe:
Biafra, Biafra... Haters from oduduwa repulblic can kill themselves

what's this? Are you with us? Whats the relationship between NOI, WorldBank, Biafra and Oduduwa? Please o stop embarrassing us.

violent:


I'm sure you'd agree that it's a bit ambitious and slightly delusional to assume your support for any candidate goes any further past your laptop.

Kai Nlanders and their mouth\fingers .

I've got no idea of wot 9ja has 2 gain from Ngozi bin d world bank presido, buh I pray she dosnt let us dwn... Go Go Go... (Sing along "1 by 1, dem don dey go")

Mr. Globe:
Biafra, Biafra... Haters from oduduwa repulblic can kill themselves

can somebody tell this child, that he's been weaned
What has biafra got to do with this oponu oshi; banza mutumi!

america,
and dey say we re corrupt?
no transparency, imagine health expert in bank, i just wonder

May CHEERS for Ngozi not turn to jeers. If China wants to challenge the US, is it a black African they are going to use, and a Nigerian? Especially now that a ruggedly brilliant blackman is president. A president that is in position to take decisions that can begin to reverse the effects of centuries of devastating economic exploitation, and calculated systemic looting and impoverishment of Africa. That is even if these Africans, can, like Obama, stop thinking as HONOURARY whitemen, which is grinding Foxtv and the GOP. Whats wrong with this Ngozi, whose name really means Blessing.

Developing countries who have made self a slave of the American we support kim. We cannot rule out political influence in thi case but Okonjo is most qualified on merit. The only sad thiing is that merit is no longer the major cateria both in Nigeri and abroad.

Ngozi keep on wasting our resources,it has been confirmed that you and GEJ are prodigal daughter and son of Nigeria.

that is a good news for our dear NOI. even though the international politics will not allow her in there. US alone has about 16% vote and the winning candidate must have up 85% votes according to the ammended charter. even if the whole country other than US back us (NOI), we wil not make. aside, this obvious, japan and most europe is throwing there suport on Asian Amerian health expert who want to turn banker. well, lets watch and see as the events unfolds. i actually wish her (we developing world) goodluck in our horse trading game in order to dismantle the cabals. let me use this opportunity to express my profound disapointment on that hournanary American who is shortchanging merit for personal interest. well, it is politics, the game of who gets what, when and how. buh if NOI wins who will replace her? who need her most, the world or Nigeria? for me i think we need her most. it therefor follow thus, to win is gain to loss is also gain.

I think most of us already know dat NOI will not win dis electn. As sm1 pointd out in a similar thread, dis is an electn yr 4 Obama and there's no way he wld hv foolishly put out a candidate he wasn't sure wld win. He wld hv prolly supportd NOI if he felt it wld help his profile amongst black nations nd blacks in the U.S bt he's chosen sm1 dat WILL win. I want Iweala 2 win bt it won't be dis time sadly. D stakes r way too high 4 America to lose control of d world bank now. For NOI, i see her going places in d internatnal community.

the man take style run. iweala too go find better story and tire race. international disgrace no easy. him grand ma who do die 40 years, just again..

You guys eva heard of a new world order, where do you think al this is driving at.
Hmmm... I didnt say any thing o... :-XYou guys eva heard of a new world order, where do you think al this is driving at.
Hmmm... I didnt say any thing o...

slyopez: This sounds more political than merit, i know most developed and some developing nations will support Mr Jim cos of American influence, all the same my support goes to NOI.

True!

slyopez: This sounds more political than merit, i know most developed and some developing nations will support Mr Jim cos of American influence, all the same my support goes to NOI.

You couldn't have said it better.

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you be mumu

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You are the worst fool on earth. Kirikiri Prison awaits you.

I think the outpouring of vituperation on this woman is uncalled for. Give this woman a break please. She did not rise to her present position in world bank on the back of Nigeria but merit by those who know. Apart from politics of America Ngozi remains the best candidate. A lot of ignorant fellows sit behind computer to write on subject they know nothing about and abusing this woman. The stereotyped media agenda has brainwashed half educated fellows in to thinking that Ngozi is incompetent. If you ask me, Is deregulation the right thing? My answer is yes. What about the timing? Probably wrong. You will be asking for too much if you think Ngozi can turn things around overnight. You sure need a magician to do that. Giving the circumstances and allowance for human frailty which is common to all, the woman should NOT be blamed entirely for our economic woes. SO NGOZI FIGHT ON PLEASE

she wont win, just focus on being minister and doing a pathetic job

the way ma BIAFRAN bros turn MASSOB thinks make me wonder,don't Nairalanders agree with me that all the energy that's being put together by NOI media propagandanist both the paid one's and the follow follow that it amount to sheer waist of resources. and time and it. show how backward intellectual an average Improving man is,if you people can still be able to deduce the out come of the election no wonder you people have not been able to put your own as the president of this country and I bet if you refuse to begin to analyse issue with fact available instead of allowing your sense of reasoning to be clouded with sentiment then you have a long way to go,although I have many Improving that grow up in places where I have worked that are excellent analyzer but it is pathetic that they are the small percentage whose voice cannot be heard,change your ways or even what just play out to NOI might play out when you it's turn to produce the president of these country.

newslive: i wish her success

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