Ogun State Government has accused striking bank workers in the state of blackmailing the government under the pretext of demanding improved security.
In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, Governor Ibikunle Amosun noted that the bankers indefinite strike in Ijebu and Sagamu divisions of the state were “acting under other influences in a move to discredit the government”.
In a reaction however the chairman, Ijebuland Bankers’ Forum, Mr. Olusegun Olusoga, debunked claims that striking bankers allegedly were being used against government.
He said the industrial action was only informed by the wave of insecurity across the state.
Olusoga advised the government to rather take concrete steps in curbing robberies and fulfill its promise to deliver Armoured Personnel Carriers and deployment of patrol vans as well as policemen to protect banking institutions.
Several commercial banks in Ijebu-Igbo, Ago-Iwoye, Ilaro, Ewekoro, Ota and Sagamu, among other towns had been attacked by hoodlums, who carted away huge amount of money during their operations.
As a result, bankers operating in Ogun East Senatorial District, embarked on an indefinite strike on Thursday to protest the attacks on finance houses.
But the SSG expressed dismay at the action of the bankers, saying it was a calculated attempt to portray the state government as “insensitive and unresponsive”.
He said, “The threat by the Bankers’ Forum to deny customers access to banking services on account of security complaint is gradually turning to blackmail.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we need to put it on record that in the nine months that this administration has spent in office, we have invested almost N3.7bn to provide security for our people”.
“Last December, we ordered 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers to complement the two we met on the ground. We equally purchased 125 patrol vans equipped with communication gadgets for the use of the anti-crime joint military-police task force that we established, ‘Operation Mesa’, the Quick Response Squad (QRS) and the other security agencies.”
He added, “The state government therefore considers it mischievous and reckless for Mr. Olusoga or any member of the Bankers’ Forum to claim or create the impression that we are not doing anything to put necessary security measures in place.
Olusoga said, “I am not a politician, I am not a card-carrying member of any political party, I am a banker. If anyone says I am being sponsored, they should substantiate it.
“Nobody is using me. If the government can substantiate it that this person is using me, then it means the person is using the whole of us. We are not at loggerheads with the state government. The government should see reason why we embark on strike.
“We are saying that, there is insecurity in the state. It is obvious. We are talking of insecurity. Some people have been killed in Sagamu and other places. Customers and staff were killed by armed robbers.
“The government that has taken oath to secure the lives and properties but could not defend the people that are going out with their legitimate businesses In their state.”
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