This is to inform the members of DPA that I just received a call from a top official of Zenith Bank to inform me that Mr. John Edobor [above] has been fired from Zenith Bank.
They made it clear to me that the reason they did so was because of the domestic violence he committed on his estranged wife, Ivie [pictured below].
The call was in response to the email I sent to Zenith two days ago indicating that DPA would commence a protest on the matter.
We appreciate the fact that Zenith has reached out to us. This is an important first step that Zenith has taken.
We shall continue the dialogue and negotiation today to see if we can reach an agreement that will avoid the protest that is planned tomorrow.
All we want is justice of this lady. She is somebody’s daughter. She is somebody’s mother. And above all, she is our sister and a Member of DPA.
Once you are a registered member of DPA, we shall do everything to protect you when you face challenges. We must protect Ivie Edobor and her children. It is an obligation on us.
WHY WE GO AFTER ZENITH BANK FOR THE ACTIONS OF JOHN EDOBOR, ESTRANGED HUSBAND OF IVIE EDOBOR
It is important for our members to understand why DPA is protesting against Zenith Bank. DPA believes in justice.
DPA understands how power differential leads to injustices in this country. What do I mean by this?
The way a person treats another person is often dependent on the differences in power between the two people.
The reason the police officer could intimidate and harass an ordinary citizen is just because the police officer has power and the citizen doesn’t.
The officer believes nothing would happen. The other person is at the mercy of the powerful police officer. The same with the military and other security officials.
They are powerful. You are not. So, they can maltreat you. And the law is not adequate to protect you.
It is not only the police and the army that act oppressively based on their sense of power. People in the private sector do so too.
Employees of powerful companies who make salaries three to five times higher than their mates, also exhibit this sense of power.
They know they have money. They know they can abuse anybody who doesn’t have power.
That is why such powerful person can invite a woman to his house, beat her up, rape her, and nothing will happen.
If you call the police, he will settle the police. You really cannot do anything to them. You are a nobody. They are powerful.
What is it that gives the powerful person that confidence and that sense of impunity? It is his employment and support from his employer.
The soldier knows that military will support him. The police knows that his colleagues will support him.
The powerful employee of the bank knows that the bank will protect him. So, he is virtually above the law because of the support he gets from his employers.
So, if you really want to achieve result, you have to attack his employer/employment, his power base and force them to dump him and to stop protecting him.
When Mr. John Edobor attempted to kill Ivie Edobor, what do you think was his source of confidence?
He was thinking of nothing other than the fact that he was an employee of the mighty Zenith Bank and no way would the police or the law do anything to him.
The bankers are the money people. They are connected to powerful people.
The Police Commissioner may have an account with Zenith Bank and John could reach him. He would find his number from his account information.
Even the President and Vice President of this country may have accounts with Zenith Bank. And John could reach them and he is sure of protection. So, he is above the law.
So, it is reasonable to say that Zenith Bank provided John Edobor the cloak of authority and the protective shield against the law.
The protest is a logical calculation to force Zenith to take away that shield of authority, that cloak of protection, that impunity away from John.
Otherwise, Zenith could even interfere in the current trial of John and pervert justice.
It is important to understand that when you hit Zenith, Zenith will dump John and stop covering him up.
Second reason: Zenith is a powerful player in Nigerian economy. It owes the society some level of corporate responsibility.
It must shine the light and lead by example. It must understand that it has clothed its officers with power and possible impunity.
So, it ought to have emphasized a corporate culture that would cause its officers to live by example and not to abuse the power and influence that their employment in Zenith has clothed them with.
Continues…
