Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba simply know as PLO Lumumba won the hearts of Nigerians, after footage of his interview on Nigerian program The Osasu Show, during which he endorsed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the candidate Africa should back to serve as the director-general at the World Trade Organisation.
In the video which was uploaded to YouTube on June 17, the renowned lawyer argued that the job went well beyond borders, and that as a continent Africa should come together in backing the candidate best suited for roles in global organizations.
Notably, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Sports, Heritage and Culture Amina Mohamed, announced her candidacy for the same post.
“Right now, there is the WTO; Okonjo-Iweala is the candidate we should back, given her credentials. Now, a Kenyan candidate has emerged, an Egyptian candidate has emerged. We are going to be manipulated and none of the Africans is going to get it," he quipped.
Other candidates for the role are; Abdel-Hamid Mamdou of Egypt, former UK Trade Secretary Liam Fox, Mr Jesús Seade Kuri of Mexico, Moldova’s Tudor Ulianovschi, Saudi Arabia’s former Economy Minister Mohammad Mazia al-Tualjri and Ms Yoo Myung-hee, the current Trade Minister of South Korea.
Speaking during the interview hosted by Osasu Igbinedion, the eloquent orator opined that Africans have a way of competing against each as opposed to complementing each other for the greater good of the continent as a whole.
His latest statements drew alot of reactions from Nigerians, with many referring to him as the true African statesman.
"Good job Mr. Lumumba. You are a Wise and Patriotic African. Africans take note," one of the viewers stated.
During the interview, the former anti-corruption boss pointed out several issues he felt were pulling the continent back, and highlighted Kenya's importation of maize from Mexico as an example of the lack of cooperation.
Lumumba explained that the African continent would have benefited more if Kenya looked to countries such as Malawi during the maize-deficit period.
However, in typical PLO Lumumba style, he delivered one of his witty punchlines by coining the phrase 'the terrible beauty of COVID-19'.
The professor who is the director of Kenya’s Law School, used the phrase to argue that despite the adverse effects of the pandemic, it was also responsible for bringing African leaders together for the common good.
Watch PLO Lumumba's interview below:
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