Sterling Bank Plc is under fire for putting up a post that compared the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the rise of Agege bread on its social media page and subscribers’ mail.
In its Easter celebration messages, the bank shared a post with the quote, “Like Agege Bread, He Rose” across its social media handles, but the message has drawn widespread criticisms from many Christians.
On Sunday, social media users lampooned the bank and described the message as insensitive and insulting to Christians. Many users demanded that the post be brought down immediately and an apology be tendered by the bank.
One user called on the bank to penalise its communications team.
“Unless they are equally complicit, the Management of Sterling Bank should clear its Corporate Comms team on Tuesday,” a respected public relations and communication expert, Chido Nwakamma, wrote on Facebook.
Some people also expressed their displeasure expressed towards the bank on Twitter:
@renoomokri: “Sterling Bank just compare my Jesus to Agege bread “Like Agege bread, he ROSE!! Wtf is wrong with Sterling Bank.”
@talky_tayo: “What is this Sterling bank Easter copy? “Like agege bread, He rose” Haa! So much for being a Saviour.”
@OlokpoJuliana: “Is sterling bank now selling agege bread? Abi how is the resurrection of Christ just a trivial matter to be likened to the rising of Agege bread? Shame on Sterling Bank! What a sickening apology.”
@kennykelvyn: “Nag sterling Bank dey annoy me.. comparing my Jesus to Agege bread.”
@Tumssthevibe: “Is it my Jesus that Sterling Bank is comparing your Agege bread? Osalobua. Sterling_Bank has the most stupid caption for Easter. What is “Like agege bread he rose”? Mtcheeew.“
@LamLam_X: “How can sterling bank send a message saying “just like Agege bread, Christ rose” ?? Is Jesus a joke to you.”
In its reaction to the criticisms, the bank pulled down the post on its social media page and replaced it with an apology.
“…Let he who has never sin cast the first stone,” it posted in a new message, citing Jesus Christ’s response to those who accused a woman of adultery in the Bible.
“Forgive us in the spirit of easter!” It added
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. We humbly celebrate His resurrection, the defeat of death and the hope of salvation.”
In its reaction on Monday, the Advertising Practitioner Council of Nigeria (APCON) threatened to take necessary action to ensure that the bank is sanctioned for “the exposure of such offensive advertisement according to law.”
The council also described the advertisement as “distasteful”, adding that it was neither submitted nor approved for exposure by the Advertising Standards Panel, the statutory body charged with the responsibility of ensuring that advertisements conform with prevailing laws.
The council added that it will ensure that no “religious belief or faith is ridiculed or any blasphemous advertisement (is) exposed in any guise.”
