Mr. Olubiyi Odunaro, a 53-year-old former employee of Hallmark Bank Plc who had for the past 2 weeks embarked on an indefinite hunger strike, demanding for the payment of his terminal benefit and his colleagues finally listened to the voice of reason yesterday and suspended his indefinite hunger strike.
The former Banker had been living on the street without food since November 12, protesting against the non-payment his benefit and 14000 others who were relieved from Hallmark bank after it failed to meet up with the Central Bank’s recapitalization policy in 2005.
Odunaro reconsidered his decision to remain on the street in protest, and without food when the state government’s delegation stormed the Mobolaji Bank-Anthony way where he pitched his tent against the concerned authority to appeal to him, and to assure him of the state’s government support in the fight. The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Justice and Law Reform, Mr. Lanre Akinsola and the President, Association of ex-staff of Non-Consolidated Banks, Mr. Magnus Maduka at the garden on Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way to appeal to the protester.
According to Odunaro, “On this strike, I am not acting alone. It is a struggle for me and others who are affected. Since I have received the assurance from my association that I should suspend it; and that the state governor, is now aware of the issue, I will do so today.”
The Ex-Banker who respected the appeal of the Lagos State government was rushed to the General Hospital in an ambulance service in order to get an early treatment and to regain his health. Speaking further, Odunaro said “I am suspending it and I would give the state government the benefit of the doubt. I know the state government has been up and doing on various issues concerning its residents”
Speaking on the matter, Ipaye said: “This is a very pathetic situation and immediately the Governor, Babatunde Fashola, read about it in the media, he mandated the office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and the office of the Senior Special Assistance on Justice and Law Reform to set up an inter-ministerial committee that would act on behalf of the state government on the issue.
“The most important thing to the state government is the health of Odunaro. So the first thing we would do is to provide medical service to him. This is because it is an issue concerning a man who has been on hunger strike for the past 15 days. We believe that there is an urgent need for medical attention, and that was why we have brought medical personnel to covey him to the General Hospital.”
The Attorney-General avowed thus “ it is when one is alive that he or she would be able to fight for his rights”, stressing that, “We do not want any causality. It is not in the interest of the state government for any of its residence to die.”
He promised that the Lagos state Government through the Directorate of Citizens Right and other agencies would offer free legal service while ensuring that justice is done in the matter.
According to him, “The aim of the government is to ensure that justice is achieved and they get their entitlement as fast as possible. We will be working with the lawyers of the affected Ex-Bankers. We are not concerned about who get the result, what we are more concerned about is the result.”
“The government is for the people and that was why we have pleaded with him that he should give the state government the opportunity to wade in. And immediately, we will discuss with all relevant authorities to ensure that Odunaro and others get their entitlement.
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