By; MUSA KUTAMA, Calabar.
The executive members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Cross River State chapter has passed a vote of confidence on the association’s leadership headed by Comrade Honour Sirawoo.
The chapter executive expressed its solidarity in a statement endorsed by the Chairman, Comrade Albert Andinam and its Secretary, Comrade Dianabasi Effiong and made available to New Nigerian Sports in Calabar.
According to the statement, SWAN in Cross River is also steadfast in its allegiance to the entire national executive committee of the association following its achievement in the last six months.
It stated that the Sirawoo-led association had brought SWAN back to the fore, secured a secretariat for SWAN at the National Stadium and a piece of land for its permanent secretariat (SWAN HOUSE) in Abuja.
It stated that the current national leadership of SWAN had constructively promoted sports development, regulated and coordinated the activities of members.
They,also expressed the association’s desire that the current leadership of SWAN at the state and national levels should be supported to actualise its lofty ideals of promoting sports through informed reportage.
It stated that there were no need for rancour for now among constituent chapters of SWAN or between national executive and those of the states.
The statement added that where misunderstandings exist the gladiators should give peace a chance for the re-invigorated SWAN to move on and record expected progress because through unity comes strength.
According to the statement the desire that Cross River State and Nigeria contingent continually perform well in sports at the local, states, national and global levels is deeply in the heart of SWAN members.
They pledged members’ desire and determination to support sports development in line with SWAN statutes, the National Sports Policy and global best practices.
A member of African Sports Journalists Union (ASJU) and International Sports Press Association (AIPS), SWAN, inaugurated on Feb. 1, 1964 is affiliated to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) since 1985.
SWAN is also mandated to coordinate the activities of the Nigerian Media in the promotion of sports and their socio-cultural values.
Similarly, the leadership of SWAN in the South-South also observed that since the coming on board on September 13 last year, the Sirawoo-led SWAN recorded landmark strides including regular NEC meetings across the country.
Eddie Bekom, Vice-President, South-South in a statement observed that SWAN has ensured that credible and well-meaning Nigerians were appointed National Patrons.
According to him the Sirawoo-led SWAN had set up a website for online registration of members nationwide.
“We state without equivocation that these are no mean feats recorded within just five months in office.
“For these the leadership of SWAN in the South-South affirms its implicit confidence and enduring loyalty to the pragmatic and visionary leadership of Comrade Honour Sirawoo and the entire NEC members of SWAN.
“We accordingly call on all well-meaning and genuinely loyal SWAN members and relevant sports development stakeholders in the country to disregard the diversionary antics of detractors.
“We urge them to synergise with the association to take sports in Nigeria to greater heights”.
