The President-elect of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Comrade Amina Danesi who emerged after a free and fair election held at the bankers group recently, has accused the outgoing President, Oyinkan Olasanoye of conniving with some disgruntled members to rob her of her mandate as newly elected President.
Speaking on the development, the President-elect, who threatened to take the matter to court, decried the illegality perpetrated by Olasanoye and her cohorts noting that the fraud championed by her is the height of impropriety and one that could be injurious to the respected association and what it stands for.
Comrade Danesi, who is the immediate past President of UBA ASSBIFI, explained that Olasanoye who had communicated her disapproval over her victory on the day of the primary election, November 12, 2022 at the Bankers group had vowed to upturn the election on the day of the ratification, which took place in Ogere on November 26 at the 11th Triennial National Delegate Conference of the Association.
Danesi explained that, herself and other members were shocked to see the sad turn of events when the outgoing president used the powers of office to mobilise the police and other members against her as she put together another election where the runner-up at the primary election, Com. Olusoji Oluwole sponsored by her was illegally given a block vote in a bid to scuttle the whole process so as to steal her mandate.
According to the President-elect; “It is also worthy to note that the outgoing National President also sponsored another banker, Com. Isaac Fanimokun of First Bank, who came a distant 3rd in the presidential primary election to contest against the Union Bank candidate that came out of the Bankers Group line-up as First Honorary Secretary to punish Union Bank for the role it played in ensuring Comrade Danesi emerged as the winner of the primary election”.
She added that, these were the only two positions that were subjected to election at the NDC while other positions presented by the Bankers Group as line-up were adopted as unopposed.
Danesi further explained that they were intimidated with heavy presence of Policemen and all efforts by other bank delegates to raise objection and observation was frustrated as none of the delegates was recognized to speak at the conference with a threat to be harassed with Policemen.
“Seeing that Olasanoye and her group were adamant on going ahead with their fraudulent election on the floor of the NDC, UBA and Union Bank delegates decided to stage a walk out while some other units who frowned at the injustice followed in solidarity when it became very clear that there was a hidden agenda to install an unpopular candidate in the Bankers Group.”
“As law abiding citizens and in line with our internal policy on ethics, we decided not to take the law into our hands and have however been joined by our other colleagues to seek redress at the National Industrial Court,” Danesi stated.
The President-elect added that, UBA and Union bank were not part of the purported election held on November 26, 2022 that produced Com. Olusoji Oluwole whose employment status with Sterling Bank is still a subject of debate as the National President.
She also noted that her grievance and that of other members have been channelled appropriately for possible redress with a view to reclaiming their stolen mandate while also pleading with the public to disregard any communique from the National Secretariat until the matter is resolved.