Toheeb Babalola
Prior to his graduation in 2014, Kazeem Atitebi, a 36 yr old physically challenged man with a walking-stick, was working as a Campus Canvasser for the Diamond Yello Account (DYA) – a defunct mobile-money service jointly owned by Diamond Bank and MTN Nigeria, at the Federal Polytechnic Offa, in Kwara State.
Kazeem
Despite his impairment, he fulfilled his responsibilities as a canvasser by engaging, promoting and not only preaching the gospel of DYA but also selling MTN’s products to both internal and external publics of the tertiary institution. His vigorous and consistent interaction with students and staff members about the network provider got him a viral nickname, ‘Alfa MTN’ – coined from his mode of dressing on Campus.
Immediately after the acquisition of Diamond Bank by Access Bank Plc, DYA ceased operation while MTN cancelled the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the embattled bank in 2018. Kazeem and other canvassers were deserted to their cloudy fate.
Kazeem Infront of his allotted kiosk
Kazeem business relationship with MTN Nigeria and its Kwara state rep.
Acknowledging his initial contribution and impact, the telecommunication company (MTN) through its representatives reappointed Kazeem as its canvasser in 2019. Kazeem combined this duty with other things so as to stay afloat in a very challenging economyr.
Kazeem, shortly after COVID-19 pandemic, decided to deepen his business relationship with MTN Nigeria by applying as a Momo Agent. After his successful application, the network provider (through its personnel) brought a Momo Kiosk and installed this for him as a “recognized Agent” with The Polytechnic, Offa premises.(kazeem showed our correspondents documents to back his claims)
“Being a former student and through approval of the Rector, it’s easier for me to erect the Kiosk inside the Poly Offa” he told our correspondent
The beginning of Kazeem’s woes
MTN Nigeria’s Kiosk given to Kazeem below its retrieval
On Tuesday, February 20th, 2024, about 10:13 a.m WAT, Kazeem was patiently awaiting customers for the day’s transactions in his Kiosk. All of a sudden, a Police Hilux Van alongside a bus parked in front of kiosk.
Amateur video footage captured by Kazeem when his Kiosk was illegally retrieved from him
“One of the Officers pointed a gun at me, and shouted COME OUTSIDE! COME OUTSIDE!”, he revealed in a shaking voice “They chased me out illegally and I was asking them what was my offence and they didn’t say anything”
Next thing, a Hausa man with a digger surfaced out of the bus and started removing the plaster cement that keyed the Kiosk on earth, while the policemen observed from the nearby bamboo tree where they isolated their van. Within 30 minutes, Kazeem’s source of livelihood was lifted on the bus by three men and he watched helplessy as the policemen took the Kiosk out of his sight. “That was the most traumatic drama in my life” he pitifully said
Nigerian Grassroots News found out that the Policemen were hired by the newly deployed Sales Representative for Kwara South, Mrs. Nene Otohinoyi whose instructions they acted upon.
What I could remember according to Kazeem was that during Mrs Nene random inspection to the 15 locations of Momo Agents in Offa . on the 19th February 2024, visited Kazeem kiosk, and informed me verbally in a joking manner,
,” Alfa, we are coming to carry the kiosk tomorrow. She queried how I got a Kiosk without being a canvasser. She informed our supervisors and didn’t tell me anything directly. Also discussed my disability as a hindrance to productivity”, Kazeem said
I do know if there is going to be termination of agreement, there is a process and up until that time. less than ten hours to the time she instructed the police to invade my kiosk, no one told me anything.
When contacted through WhatsApp messages, Nene, affirmed knowledge of the withdrawal of the Kiosk. She told our correspondents, “The asset has not been used frequently, and failed to give required results””.
Nene further claim “The kiosk is an MTN asset given to retailers for free to drive all MTN business propositions. The asset has not been in use frequently and the business is asking why it’s not giving required results and ROI. I have been tasked by the business to redeploy to where we’ll get return, which is what I have done”
She stated further that she was not intimidating kazeem but that MTN Nigeria made a decision to ensure 100% asset usage where revenue can be generated. This she had carried out.
Cross-checking with Kazeem, we gathered that Momo Agents cannot access their sales to rate productivity, and there was no prior warning or discussion about not meeting targets from either the MTN Nigeria’s regional or corporate head office. Same goes for MTN Nigeria’s regional representatives.
“It was a lie! They should check my record through my number, if they will not see my consistency. It is only MTN Nigeria that can access our daily transactions.” Kazeem dares MTN to affirm this. “It is only when school goes on break, that I do not do business with that asset. The time they came to revoke the kiosk, school activities were ongoing even till now”
While Mrs Nene was asked for her reason(s) for hiring policemen to the site, Nene deliberately refused to provide an answer till the time of the press. This shows the opposite of her initial response to accusation about intimidation and use of force
However, the unconstitutional action of the policemen had caused Kazeem emotional trauma. Since then, Kazeem is yet to recover from depression and suicidal thoughts. “That was my first encounter with Police. They chased me out with guns illegally. I am yet to recover from the shock. It was really a bad experience which I can never forget in my life” he said then cried
As an accredited agent of a reputable telecommunication, whatever the situation may be, Kazeem deserves fair hearing. Nene, within shortest time, used police against him without following business process and conflict resolution mechanism.
Nene’s acts and many others in her shoes towards a persons with disabilities like Kazeem continue to fuel an already 60% unemployed status of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) out of the 29 million PWDs population. We will also recall,in the same February, Nigeria Bureau of Statistic (NBC) publicised a 5% increase in Unemployment rate generally as at 3Q of 2023.
At the moment, Kazeem has joined 58.9% unemployed PwDs’ graduates with a Higher National Diploma (HND). Social and other related abuses are part of the challenges of PwDs.
Human Rights and PWDs advocates speak
Temitope Olujimi, an Executive Director of Supreme Guardian International Ltd and Human Rights Activist explained that people at the corridors of power/policy often employ character assassination to silence and destroy PWDs in most democratic settings. Stressing that PWDs are not only intimidated by the law enforcement agents but also encountered discrimination from wealthy civilians in the society.
“This is happening due to lack of proper implementation of disability laws across the States. And I must say categorically that there are people with special needs in each household. I will implore MTN Nigeria to do the needful. This is a young man who’s trying to meet his ends through their business” Olujimi said at virtual interview with Our Correspondent
Also, Funso Benjamin, the Executive Director of Disability Not A Barrier Initiative (DINABI), faulted the Nigerian Police Force for stooping too low to be used as an instrument of unlawful actions. Saying that anyone irrespective of condition should not be intimidated, humiliated and harassed for certain things in the world.
“There’s nothing wrong inviting such a person to the station other than you taking police officers to go and meet PwD and threaten him. It means if the man refuses to dance to their tune, they are definitely going to harm him, which is totally wrong.
Maybe the officers don’t know about any law called Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities, Prohibition Act 2018. Perhaps they are also not aware of the International Convention on the Right of Person with Disabilities (ICRPD) that was signed and ratified by the Nigerian Government that protects PwDs. Those officers should be called to order and brought to justice as well” Benjamin added
Benjamin further affirmed his organisation’s plan to curb behaviour is currently working to train Security agencies on best practices in Disability Inclusion and various legal frameworks associating with PWDs in Nigeria.
As at the time of filing this report, Kazeem has not received any official letter from Nene or MTN Nigeria that indicated termination of service urgent need to retrieve the kiosk from him kiosk.
The question then is, Is MTN Nigeria behind such assault, unprofessional termination of business agreement, intimidation, harassment through illegal means, especially when it has to do with person with disability, which MTN Nigeria claims to be friend to in its corporate inclusion program
