The Bankers Saga...

A colleague once made a statement that..."You would know a true Christian or a True Moslem when money comes in between." Then, I neither took the statement serious nor from its face value. But really truly that five years old statement had made endless meaning to me. And as the days goes by incidence arose that often give me cause to reflect on that very statement.

Interestingly the banks witnessed what in the calculations of many Nigerians was a good omen, while to some it was a vindictive step to retaliate or present an agenda of a kind. So here the statement of old...when money comes in between, then you would know a true and patriotic Nigerian as well as a true religious. The question could then be: Why the sudden sentiments attached to the sack of some top Nigerian Banks Executives? Perhaps those of us rejoicing of the lost of their plum jobs have found some kind of retaliatory push for the loans they refused us from those with the might to chase them out.



Whilst we celebrate the mistake of another, we should be mindful of the fact that, the same challenges that pushed the perceived victims into that fall awaits their successors. Again, their fallibility as humans is incontestable. So, instead of rejoicing so much about the fall of another, we should be praying for repentance of the fallen and for the survival of their successors.

In truth we are all guilty of the same offence of corruption, avaricious lives, under pressure on those in privileged positions, ill advice and our inactions. Meanwhile, we must make bold to condemn what is wrong so that we can be able to deter others from falling victims. At the same time, we must collectively build a vibrantly financial sector in sector in Nigeria, devoid of sentiments, favoritism, ethnicism or tribalism or even robbing Peter to pay Paul. It is only when we do things with the full realization of those obvious facts that we can overcome challenges posed by the economic realities of our times.


I must confess that the likes of Ibrahim Jimoh has proved to his critics that he is credit worthy through his singular action of not only meeting the deadline given by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for debtors to pay back their loans, but also by paying over N3 billion at a point when so many investors needs to be liquid. Additionally, his comments during an interview with Mike Mba, the BBC correspondent is worthy of note. And that is one statement of fact which Nigerian banks have seriously ignored... the statement about foreign banks giving loans based on trust and seriousness. Unfortunately the reverse is the case here where our local banks ask for an arm and a leg, plus all that you have for just a loan. Thus making loans acquisition difficult for the average Nigerian business. And the multiplier effects of their stringent measures are often seen in the stagnation witnessed generally in the Nigerian economy.

What an irony of faith to have loans granted by our banks only to those who rarely need it at the utter neglect of those who are dying for it to grow their businesses. We truly need a rethink and town-hall-meeting to resolve our differences if we must grow our ailing economy.