- * Passes Vote of Confidence On Group's President, NEC
By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
The first physical council meeting of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in six years has ended in the ancient city of Kano with a call on members to desist from acts that bring about divisions within the fold.
The full Council which passed a vote of confidence on the President Isaiah Kemje Benjamin led executive and the entire NEC as constituted after hearing from him allegations of gross misconduct also want members to dwell more on things that unite, not what divides SWAN.
The full Council, according a communiqué e-signed by the Communique drafting Committee; Chimezie Anaso- Chairman, Segun Giwa- Secretary, Chinwendu Nnadozie-member, Mustapha Musa-member and Ikenna Okonkwo - Secretary General, agreed that SWAN is not in crisis as being erroneously pictured but a case of some persons trying to use the platform for personal interests.
The Council which commended Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike for his continued support to sports development, traced the misunderstanding that almost ended SWAN existence to lack of proper handover by the immediate past leadership, coupled with the delay in issuance of ID Cards to members.
Avoidable shady handling of ID card registration in the past few years and the non-remittance of certain percentages to states and zonal offices, according to the Communique, had pitched members against the leadership of the association. SWAN therefore called for better ways of handling both annual registration/renewal of membership.
To avoid clash of interests, the Full Council also relieved the immediate past President of SWAN, Dr. Honour Sirawoo of his position as Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman, approved the expansion of the size of BoT from three to seven, while also encouraging members to determine their leadership.
The Council after painstakingly deliberating on how to move the association forward agreed that the tenure of the current SWAN statute is due for review and that a committee be set up accordingly at the next Full Council.
It stated the seeming no love lost between SWAN and the NUJ was hinged on personal interests than the collective intrest of the association. The Full Council approved a positive review of SWAN relationship with NUJ and mandated the President/NEC to engage in further discussion that will end the seeming ill feelings between them.
Moving forward, the Full Council resolved that it is a criminal offense for anybody or group of persons outside the Isaiah Kenje Benjamin led NEC to use the title, ‘SWAN’ for any personal or unofficial communication, as anyone found culpable will be dealt with according to the guiding laws of the group.
The Council having considered the activities of three elected NEC members, declared them suspended indefinitely, and also approved the removal of three others appointed into the leadership of the association.
Those suspended indefinitely from NEC meetings are; SWAN Deputy President, Bonny Nyong, Vice President South-South, Azuka Chiemeka and the Financial Secretary, Ijeoma Peter-Nwante.
Also, the following appointees by the President/NEC of the association were relieved of their duties; the Vice President South-East, Frankie Omonkhua, the Deputy Secretary-General Olalekan Ige and the Vice President North-West, Mansur Mohammed.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper Correspondent who was part of the meeting which took place at the Global Luxury Suites, GRA Kano, reports that; out of the 36 states and the FCT, Abuja that make up the SWAN Full Council, Ebonyi and Lagos states was outrighly absent, while Imo, Akwa-Ibom and Abia states apologized for their inability to attend. NNL
