Confusion in NUBIFIE over Wema Bank crisis

27.03.2008

Agroup of concerned stakeholders in Wema Bank Plc has said it is confused over the true position of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution Employees (NUBIFIE), Wema Bank unit, on the current crisis in the bank.

The stakeholders, some of who are workers while some are shareholders, in an advertorial, stated that they found it difficult to know the true position of NUBIFIE on the crisis based on its contradicting statements in the media in recent times.

“A case in reference is the NUBIFIE’s write up of its stand on the Group Managing Director, Adebisi Omoyeni, in January 2008. The position contained in that letter tallies with the positive positions that have been highlighted by other stakeholders in support of the GMD before now.

“However, one is perplexed by this new position of NUBIFIE in its “OPEN LETTER TO ALL NIGERIANS” published in The Punch of Sunday, March 23, 2008,” the group stated.

NUBIFIE, Wema Bank unit, had in January, 2008, in an advertorial entitled, Call Tunde Lemo (DG, CBN) TO ORDER signed by its chairman, Bayo Odumade, and secretary, Tokunbo Ejieye, expressed confidence in Adebisi Omoyeni and condemned a former Managing Director of the bank and currently a Deputy Governor in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Tunde Lemo, for allegedly perpetrating acts aimed at undermining the bank’s management and capable of frustrating the bank’s business.

The NUBIFIE, Wema Bank unit, in another advertorial on March 23, 2008, changed its tune, throwing its weight behind Lemo and condemning some of Omoyeni’s activities as an Executive Director and Managing Director of the bank.

The group of concerned stakeholders in the bank thus urged NUBIFIE to let the general public know its true position on the crisis.