Even the best of blissful unions is at risk of becoming stale if not renewed constantly. The oft-enamoured husband might recoil in horror as his beautiful damsel slowly transforms into a plain-looking dame, aided by the pitiless scalpels of Father Time who reshapes her smooth curves into ugly furrows and stretch marks.  When this happens, the marriage, whether between husband and wife or bank and customers, cools down as the passion of happier times slowly drains away.

The management of Sterling Bank were determined to avoid this possibility at all costs. Hence they appointed Abubakar Suleiman as the new bride to occupy the fantasies of the customer base. Come April 1, 2018, Abubakar Suleiman will take over the mantle of Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, succeeding its founding CEO Yemi Adeola who will step down into retirement.

Predictably, the announcement of Abubakar’s imminent ascension has already triggered a mad dash to enter the good books of the incoming CEO. Friends, contractors and hangers-on have started lobbying and making deals to guarantee they are favoured by the new regime. Junior and senior staff of Sterling Bank are not left out of the jousting as everyone tries to position themselves as allies.

The story is the same on social media. Ever since the news broke, Abubakar, who was the bank’s Executive Director, Finance & Strategy before his appointment, has been inundated with congratulatory messages splashed on social media and his close associates are planning to host the latest md in town . Even those who knew him before his elevation have been engaged in an endless round of chest-thumping at being associated with the new most powerful man atop one of the country’s premier banks.