Call me TOE or Mr Elumelu: Sowore condemns backlash against UBA staff, demands psychosocial support

File: African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.

Human rights activist and presidential candidate under the platform of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has faulted the backlash against a young staff member of United Bank for Africa who came under criticism after addressing the bank’s Chairman, Tony Elumelu, by his first name.

Sowore also called on the bank to provide the woman with appropriate psychosocial support, following the public ridicule and attacks she has faced since the incident went viral.

The activist disclosed this in a Facebook post on Saturday, saying a senior management official of UBA Group had contacted him over his comments on the treatment of the woman, who is participating in the bank’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme.

The controversy followed a viral video in which Elumelu corrected the woman after she addressed him as “Tony” during an interaction.

Elumelu subsequently explained that he did not subscribe to what he described as “oyinbo life”, stressing the importance of respect in African culture.

Tony Elumelu. Credit: UBA

Reacting to the backlash, Sowore rejected the argument that the incident was simply a clash between African and Western cultures.

He described it as “a class war”, arguing that the reaction reflected the social hierarchy and class consciousness that determine who is expected to show deference and who is permitted to speak casually.

“I made it clear that, in my view, this was not a ‘culture clash’; it was a class war, a reflection of the deeply entrenched hierarchy and class consciousness that too often determines who is considered entitled to demand deference and who is expected to provide it,” he said.

Sowore argued that if Elumelu’s son or daughter addressed a family gateman or driver by his first name, the incident would hardly attract similar outrage.

He added that many of those criticising the young woman would likely expect the gateman or driver to address Elumelu’s children with exaggerated deference.

“That tells you immediately that this argument is not really about ‘African culture’ or respect. It is about class, status, wealth and power,” he said.

Sowore, however, said his major concern was the psychological impact of the controversy on the young woman.

He urged UBA to immediately provide her with appropriate psychosocial support, stressing that no young employee or trainee should be left to deal alone with the consequences of becoming the target of widespread public criticism.

“More importantly, I specifically requested that, given the enormous public opprobrium, ridicule, and attacks this young woman has been subjected to, UBA must immediately provide her with appropriate psychosocial support.

“Whatever anyone thinks about how she addressed Tony Elumelu, no young employee or trainee should be left alone to absorb the psychological consequences of suddenly becoming the target of a massive public controversy,” he said.

Sowore said the young woman should not be “sacrificed on the altar of corporate hierarchy or social-media outrage”.

“Her dignity, welfare and mental well-being must come first,” he added.

The incident has sparked a wider debate on workplace etiquette, respect for senior executives and the practice of addressing superiors by their first names in Nigerian workplaces.