Olubiyi Odunaro, a 53-year-old former employee of
Hallmark Bank Plc., has embarked on hunger strike to protest against
non-payment of his terminal benefit.
Besides, the ex-banker has turned a garden on
Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way into his new home, vowing to remain there
until he is paid his benefits.
Hallmark Bank was one of the banks which did not meet
the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapilatisation policy in 2005 resulting
in its folding up.
Odunaro, a senior manager of the defunct bank, said he began the hunger strike on November 12.
READ MORE OF THE JUICY STORY AFTER THE CUT
When our correspondent visited him on Mobolaji Bank
Anthony Way, opposite Opebi U Turn Road junction, on Tuesday, he was
seen reading a novel ‘Long walk to freedom’ by Nelson Mandela.
He explained that he embarked on the protest to
expose the insensitivity of the Federal Government to pay the terminal
entitlements of over 14,000 employees of the 14 banks that failed to
meet up with the recapitalisation policy.
Odunaro said he wrote President Goodluck Jonathan on
October 24 informing him of his decision to embark on the hunger strike
if the agencies concerned did not pay them their entitlements on or
before October 31.
He said, “I feel downcast with the turn of events in
our country and I drew the passion to embark on a hunger strike from my
disenchantment to the deliberate denial of common citizens’ rights.
“Before, I began this hunger strike, I sought the
consent of my family members and I also underwent a comprehensive
medical examination. I erected that tent with N27,000 and it is now my
new home.”
Asked if his health has not been deteriorating,
Odunaro said, “Though I take water at 8pm everyday, It’s gradually
taking a toll on me as I have started losing weight.
“My personal doctor came to examine me on Friday and
he said I am not doing bad health wise. There have been pleas from
friends and other loved ones to end this strike. But, I will continue
with the hunger strike until the FG pays us our lawful entitlements.”
He lamented that despite the laid down procedures
contained in the Guidelines and Incentives on Consolidation in the
Nigerian Banking Industry, they had not been attended to.
He said, “It wasn’t our wish or our making to be out
of jobs. The CBN in its own wisdom introduced the recapitalisation
policy and afterwards withdrew the operating licence of Hallmark Bank
where I worked and 13 other banks for failing to meet up with the
recapitalisation policy deadline.
“But, seven years on, the guidelines on consolidation
which make provision for our compensation in view of the development
had not been followed.”
He said despite writing several letters of appeal as a
group to the FG and other relevant agencies concerning the issue, they
had been ignored.
He said, “On a personal note, I even took it upon
myself to get President Goodluck Jonathan informed by posting series of
comments about this issue on his Facebook page.
“Unfortunately, nothing has been done and many of us
live a deplorable way of life with the majority unable to meet
obligations to their children and other dependants.
“Thirty-eight people from just three banks that I
know of have died and one of the employees of Hallmark Bank committed
suicide in Aba, Abia State, as a result of his inability to eke out a
living.”
SOURCE
I feel bad for him not because the government doesn’t care, but because the masses that are suffering everyday are not even in his support
ReplyDeleteI really feel for this man. But it is rather unfortunate that he is doing this in a country like nigeria where no one cares a hoot about what he’s going through
ReplyDeleteWhy are you feeling for him? He and other members of the Hall Bank Management made it difficult for the bank to meet up with the re-capitalization because they were busy stealing from the bank then. This man, Biyi, in particular with the MD (brother to a one-time Senate President), directors were people stealing and cutting all kinds of deals. Instead of hailing this man, he and his seniors should be rotting in jail.
ReplyDeleteAccusing someone in private life of blatant thievery when you can proof it is a crime. so be very careful
ReplyDeleteYou are my Hero!!! God bless you!!!
ReplyDeleteWhich kain hero be that?
ReplyDeleteCan someone pls help me tell dis 53yr old man, dat our govt does not recognize dis kind of protest, dis is not america nor europe
ReplyDeleteKindly go home to ur family oga.
ReplyDeleteThis is purely demonstration of madness. The gentle man fails to realise that there is milestone differences between developed and developing countries. Nigeria is such a nation that is devoured of moral value. The likes of Clifford Orji’s are watching you. Kindly do not sleep with the two eyes closed at nite
ReplyDeleteMaybe he has issues with his landlord
ReplyDeleteTake heart my man and go home u have adopted wrong approach in a wrong country
ReplyDeleteThey ought to have settled all the workers benefits before liquidating those banks then. @ mr Ngaji why re u accussing mr Odunayo of any misdeed from his former employee? Do u know him before this publication? It was OBJ that can be accussed because HALL MARK AND SAVANNAH BANKS were doing well then. OBJ closed the banks out of hatred he had on Orji Kalu and Cheif Jim Nwaododo.
ReplyDelete