A Nigerian lady, identified as Olanike Jimoh, has been forcefully relieved of her work at TradeDepot after she celebrated the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Recall that in 2021, the Nigeria- and U.S.-based company, TradeDepot, raised $110 million in new equity and debt funding as it hoped to bring in more retail stores and expand its buy now, pay later service across the continent. It is a startup B2B company that connects consumer goods brands to thousands of retailers and helps with distribution.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a politician famed for his strategic deftness, won a tight race to succeed Muhammadu Buhari as the next president of Nigeria.
While some Nigerians are not pleased Tinubu won ahead of the preferred candidate, Peter Obi, of largely youths internet users, there are some youths that are really happy for his emergence.
However, the Nigerian lady, who is a supporter of Tinubu took to her Twitter page to celebrate the victory. This gesture cost her job as the company, TradeDepot Investment Limited sacked her.
TradeDepot operates a B2B marketplace that connects small shops, kiosks and retailers with wholesalers of global consumer brands that have access to food, beverages and personal care products. The company owns its warehouses and fleets of drivers to carry out distribution. The company is led by its CEO, Onyekachi Izukanne.
Although the company claimed that the young lady was sacked based on her performance, it was proved that Olanike was among the best staff.
The story which was shared on Twitter by a user reads, “TradeDepot investment Ltd. One of the leading drinks sellers in Nigeria Sacked one of us (Progressive) because she celebrated Asiwaju’s win. All because a blogger fed on it…The owner a staunch Peter obi supporter decided to take it up and sacked the girl.” He lied that she sacked her based on no performance. But here is the girl in the second position of the most performing staff.👇 Her name is number 2 on the list.”
Checkout the posts below:
PRESIDENT-ELECT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA – ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU
Congratulations to all progressives 🎉, We fought a good fight and WON 🏆 pic.twitter.com/iJrkcdaCVh— Iron Lady💕 شكرا 💞 (@olanike_jimoh) March 1, 2023
Trade pot investment Ltd. One of the leading drinks sellers in Nigeria Sacked one of us (Progressive) because she celebrated Asiwaju’s win. All because a blogger fed on it…The owner a staunch Peter obi supporter decided to take it up and sacked the girl. He lied that she pic.twitter.com/LBiPG9s4wG
— 36kinniun*2 (@fattylincorn_01) March 6, 2023
Internet users shared their cents about the situation as they took to comment section. Some reactions are shown below:
@thefavouredman said, “I hope you have condemned the locking of people shops cos they didn’t vote a particular party…it is a big shame that the racism we cry and condemned is now what we do and promote just because of politics…las las everybody na hypocrite”.
@Ewa_oyin said, “Nah it never should be this deep now ! On top wetin !!! I pray Allah comes through for us ! He might probably be preparing something bigger”.
@ManLikeBright said, “This one is totally wrong, I hope they’ve legit reason for this sha”.
@jojoLif said, “Well! She’s about to get a big and better job.”
@khanofkhans11_ said, “Lost her job for what?? She can’t have her choice candidate? She should sue the company.”
@Chika_dibia1 said, “For her to support Tinubu means she likes suffer😂
They enabled her enjoy it.”
@TheOfficialCom9 said, “May God provide a better one for her….and let’s look at the other side, the company found out she can’t make better decisions and for that she may not have the ability to push the company forward 🔼”.
@EforkDavis5 said, “Blame the blogger that fed on it not the company, they have rules too. Don’t expect someone working with the mikano and taking all their benefits now celebrate opposition ‘we fought a good fight and won”.
@mamababa20uu said, “O said it from the beginning… Obi’s loss is a blessing to Nigeria and Nigerians…. May pitobi never win any election in this Nation in Jesus name 🙏🙏🙏…. The man is a symbol of hatred, bitterness and division.”
The Series B funding the company got came almost 18 months after raising $10 million co-led by Partech Africa and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
IFC led the round this time, while Novastar, Sahel Capital, CDC Group, Endeavor Catalyst and existing investors Partech and MSA Capital participated. The debt funding was led by Arcadia Funds, a lender that specializes in P2P and marketplace lending and insurance-linked securities.
As part of the round, Wale Ayeni, the head of Africa Venture Capital Investment for IFC and Brian Odhiambo, the West Africa director of Novastar Ventures, were expected to join TradeDepot’s board.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
