The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called for the removal of the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, over the bank’s Easter message which linked the resurrection of Jesus Christ to ‘Agege Bread’.

Sterling Bank had in its Easter message on April 17 compared the resurrection of Jesus Christ to ‘Agege bread’.

The bank, in a statement issued by Suleiman, later apologised for the message, noting that the content of the the message was insensitive and failed to consider the sober nature of the resurrection of Jesus.

Suleiman stated the message which had no “malicious intent” had been withdrawn by the bank.

However, CAN, while describing the Easter advert of the bank as provocative, called for the removal of Suleiman and his entire team.

CAN made the call via a statement issued by Its National Secretary, Barr. Bade Daramola, on Wednesday.

It described the bank’s Easter message as a “wicked, insensitive and deliberately provocative advertisement of the Sterling Bank”.

It added that Suleiman and his team’s actions have “clearly shown their hostility and hatred for the Christian faith”.

CAN, however, enjoined Christians not to take the law into their hands in seeking redress, but to let the relevant authorities handle the matter.

It stated: “In case the management of the Sterling Bank is not aware, the resurrection of Jesus witnesses to the immense power of God Himself.

“To believe in the resurrection is to believe in God. If God exists, and if He created the universe and has power over it, then He has the power to raise the dead. If He does not have such power, He is not worthy of our faith and worship.

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“Only He who created life can resurrect it after death, only He can reverse the mystery that is death itself, and only He can remove the sting and gain the victory over the grave (1 Corinthians 15:54–55). In resurrecting Jesus from the grave, God reminds us of His absolute sovereignty over life and death.

“In the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, God put our punishment on Christ so that we could be justified before Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“The resurrection of Jesus confirms that God accepted Christ’s sacrifice for sin on the cross and gives us access to a right relationship with Him.

“The Empty tomb shows the supremacy of Jesus. Go to the grave of any other religious founder and his carcasses are still there being worshiped, but where Jesus was buried, it is boldly written; “He is no longer here, He has Risen”! That is what we are celebrating at Easter”.

“For Sterling Bank to compare Jesus’ resurrection with a loaf of bread is blasphemous and insensitive to the religion embraced by billions of people globally. The advertisement was provocative.”

CAN further noted that the apology of the bank did not come from a penitent heart, saying: “How can someone in his right mind describe the risen Christ as a loaf of bread? That is insulting, ridiculous and a mockery of Jesus Christ.”

The Star