By Uzair Adam Imam
Many people were outraged by the Polaris Bank Ltd directive, Tuesday that laid a strong warning against its Muslim staff to desist going to Friday prayer.
The Daily Reality reported that there had been growing anxiety among the Muslim employees as the order did not sit well with them.
The management of the bank, in an email to its Muslim employees, said going to the mosque for Friday prayer contradicts the policy of the bank.
However, a statement issued and signed by the Group Head, Strategic Brand Management, Nduneche Ezurike, said the incident involved one staff and her supervisor and has already been addressed.
Customers’ rage
The management of the bank was under fire as the concerned citizens, who couldn’t make sense of the directive, threatened to stop using the bank.
Abdallah Aliyu Uba said, “We’re doing all the needful to successfully withdraw all our money from the bank.”
Idrees Omar stated, “Polaris bank beats the drum and definitely, our Muslim brothers, will teach them lessons. This carries strong messages to the bank that Islam in Nigeria is beyond intimidation.”
Shehu Bello said, “Polaris bank will receive our strong messages that, Islam in Nigeria is beyond intimidation by any means.”
Ayuba Musa Garba stated, “By God’s grace as of now I decided to stop using this bank”
Mas’udu Musa said, ‘By God’s grace as of now I decided to stop using this bank.”
I resigned from my work over the ban on prayer
One of the employees of the Dimond Bank, Yusuf Shehu, has recounted how he resigned from his job over a ban on prayers by the bank.
Shehu said, “This applies to all banks in Nigeria except Zenith and Union Bank.
“This happened to me during my days in Diamond Bank. I had to beg, kneeling for my supervisor before She could allow me to go and pray.
“One of my colleagues was issued a Memo like this too. In the Banking industry, you have to worship your Supervisor like a god. God forbid. It’s my reason I left too,” he said.
