Nigeria’s oldest commercial bank, First Bank has been dragged on Twitter for allegedly “sugarcoating” its support for the ongoing #EndSARS protests.
In apparent support for the protests on Saturday afternoon, the bank tweeted a message: “Now More Than Ever… Was your voice made for a time such as this?”
But instead of using the popular hashtags for the protest, #EndSARS and/or #EndPoliceBrutality, the bank decided to leave out ‘SARS’, opting for #ReformNow and #EndBrutality.
Many Nigerians that saw the message took offence at it, saying it was better for the bank to keep quiet if it could not wholeheartedly back the protests.
A tweep, Nike Oladokun wrote, “Don’t sugarcoat it. You are either in or out. Don’t be an elephant.”
A journalist, David Hundeyin, wrote, “I don’t have a First Bank account but I feel like closing my First Bank account because of this tweet. Ewo tun ni eleyii? (What’s this). It would have been better if you kept quiet.”
Another tweep, Dozie wrote, “Omo the thing just tire me, a bank sitting on the fence.. we won’t forget.”
An activist, Manny Emmanuel wrote, “We don’t want reform nonsense.”
One AK Boboye wrote, “What Nigerian banks needs is reform. What SARS needs is to end. #EndSARS”
Another tweep, Babajide wrote, “First Bank trying to join the movement but politically! It would have been better to keep mute, no one would notice. Brands solidarity is inconsequential in a struggle like this but when you try to play on people’s intelligence, you’re doing more harm to your brand than good.”
Read Also: Ogbomoso: Nigerians furious as police kill EndSARS protester Jimoh Isiaq
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