By Emmanuel Obisue
Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has demanded the sacking of Sterling Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Abubakar Suleiman, over a controversial Easter message shared on the bank’s social media platforms.
CAN’s demand was conveyed in a statement signed and issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Daramola, describing the message as “wicked and insensisitve” towards Christians.
Nigerian Pilot had reported how the bank faced backlash after it published an Easter message, which likened the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the popular Agege bread sold in Lagos State.
Demanding the bank’s CEO’s sack, CAN said: “The attention of the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria has been drawn to an ungodly, wicked, insensitive and deliberately provocative advertisement of Sterling Bank, comparing the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ to ‘Agege Bread’ amidst the Easter celebration.
“In case the management of the Sterling Bank is not aware, the resurrection of Jesus witnesses the immense power of God Himself. To believe in the resurrection is to believe in God, if God exists, and if He created the universe and has power over it, then He has power to raise the dead. If He does not have such power, He is not worthy of our faith and worship.
“Only He who created life can resurrect it after death, only He can reverse the mystery that is death itself, and only He can remove the sting and gain the victory over the grave (1 Corinthians 15:54–55). In resurrecting Jesus from the grave, God reminds us of His absolute sovereignty over life and death”, it said.
The apex Christian body thus advised Christians to be wary of the banks they patronise, insisting that Suleiman and the Management of the bank showed “hostility and hatred” for the Christian faith.
“The purported apology did not come from a penitent heart. How can someone in his right mind describe the risen Christ as a loaf of bread? That is insulting, ridiculous and a mockery of Jesus Christ. We advise Christians to be wary of the banks and other financial institutions they are patronising.
“We learnt that the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria has reportedly intervened in the matter with a view to impose some sanctions against Sterling Bank. The Christian Association of Nigeria is waiting for the decision of the organisation.
“However, in the interim, we call for the immediate removal of the Chief Executive of Sterling Bank; Mr. Abubakar Suleiman with his Management whose actions have clearly shown their hostility and hatred for the Christian faith,” CAN added.
