Sterling Bank, one of Nigeria’s Banking Institutions has displayed high-level insensitivity in a blasphemous and provocative Easter celebration message.
The Bank’s Managing Director, Abubakar Suleiman, who is of the Muslim faith has come under intense criticism for comparing Jesus to ‘Agege bread’ in his Easter message.
The Bank wrote in an illustration in an advertorial on Sunday. “Like Age Bread He Rose. Happy Easter”.
The ‘Bread’ got its name from a suburb called “Agege” in Lagos is one of the most popular Nigerian homemade bread and it’s known for its puffy, soft, stretchy, and chewy texture, the Christian doctrine, Easter, marks the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and his ascension into heaven.
In essence, the bank was trying to depict that Jesus Christ rose like ‘Agege bread’ known for its puffy nature.
The Ecumenical Youth Association is outraged by the Bank’s distasteful and insensitive message, calling it blasphemous and a mockery of the Christian faith.
Consequently, the Ecumenical Youth Association have asked Christians to punish the bank by closing their accounts and boycotting the bank. EYA also called on the Christian Associations of Nigeria (CAN) to take up the matter with the bank which practices Islamic banking.
Following outcries and anger over the offensive message, Sterling Bank, rather than show remorse, further displayed arrogance, disrespect, and disdain for the Christian faith in a follow-up tweet.
The bank said: “Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone.
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. We humbly celebrate His resurrection, the defeat of death, and the hope of salvation.”
Vehemently condemning the deliberate and provocative act, the Ecumenical Youth Association, EYA, has said it will wait for CAN to mete out sanctions on the bank for its blasphemous message, but failure to do that, it will take necessary action against the bank.
In a statement signed by the organisation’s President, Daboikiabo Z. Warmate, National secretary, Anthony Dogara, and Secretary of National Affairs, Gbenga Adedamola, stated that the said offensive and provocative message is an act of blasphemy.
Read the press statement from EYA in full.
The Ecumenical Youth Association(EYA) has observed with great displeasure the insensitive, inciting, and provocative Easter Celebration advertisement by Sterling Bank Plc which compared the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ with Agege Bread.
Enough is Enough, this will be the last time this kind of thing will happen without a reaction in the language they understand. Christians have been taken for granted for a long in Nigeria. That was how Nasiru El Rufia made a sarcastic comment about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ some years ago. Our respect for human life and love for peace does not mean that we don’t have violent potential.
The very useless sterling bank and its senseless management can not make such sarcastic advertorial about prophet Muhammed and go scout free without their properties destroyed or staff glitch or even Muslim leaders openly condemning the act by closing their accounts with the bank.
We call on the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, to urge churches and order Christian leaders to close whatever account they have with starling bank.
We further urge Christians not to give an offering, pay tithes, and other kingdom propagation support or investment with any church or Christian organization that refuses to stop doing business with starling bank.
This has become one of the too many insults on our lord and saviour Jesus Christ and the Body of Christ in Nigeria.
Below is the national anthem of our domesticated quote of a prominent Lutheran German pastor, Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) in Germany.
First, they came for the Christian Council of Nigeria, and I did not speak out—because I was not a member of the Christian Council of Nigeria.
Then they came for the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, and I did not speak out— because I was not a member of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.
Then they came for the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, and I did not speak out—because I was not a member of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.
Then they came for the Organisation of African Instituted Churches, and I did not speak out—because I was not a member of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches.
Then they came for the Evangelical Church Winning All/Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Nigeria, and I did not speak out—because I was not a member of the Evangelical Church Winning All/Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Nigeria.
Then they came for the Christian Association of Nigeria, and I did not speak out—because I was not a member of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Christians let us Unity, the denomination will not save us from the impending dangers former deputy governor of CBN, late Obadiah Mailafa told the world before his untimely death, only Unity will save us and the body of Christ.
They are taking advantage of our broken unity to insult and disrespect our faith and saviour Jesus Christ.
How good and pleasant it is for us to dwell together in Unity.
