*Hails outgoing President Sirawoo for uplifting SWAN’s status
*Says all would be carried along according to statutes of association
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The frontrunner for the Presidency of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria( SWAN),and the immediate past Chairman of SWAN, Kaduna Chapter, Mr.Isaiah Benjamin has while hailing the outgoing President Sir Honour Sirawoo for uplifting the image of the association, has assured that he would hit the ground running if elected National President of the body next week.
Mr. Benjamin spoke to journalists on the sidelines of the preparation of the National under 21 Female Volleyball team’s departure for Niger Republic for the Africa Zone 3 Tournament, saying that if he is elected SWAN National President, he will immediately visit state chapters in all parts of the country with the aim of resuscitating projects that were paused or abandoned.
He added that the body, in consolidating the achievements of Sir Sirawoo, has a lot of lofty projects that would better the lot of members of the Association, however, internal crisis, he noted had held the body back the implementation of such projects .
“When I am elected as the President of SWAN, I would hit the ground running, I am in a hurry to implement projects and ideas that would bring about the development of members of the body in financial terms, academics and all other aspects, that would consolidate on achievements of our amiable outgoing President.
“Sports Writers Association of Nigeria have lot of lofty ideas but for to minor disagreements here and there, many of these projects could be be implemented to the letter .
“I intend to ensure that we get those projects working, to this end, I will visit all SWAN Chapters in all part of the country to know what projects we can help support,” he said.
On the issue of disagreement between members of SWAN on one hand, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the presidential front runner for SWAN said genuine consultations are ongoing with all members who are aggrieved and that in no distant time, there would reconciliation.
“I can assure that genuine reconcilation talks are in progressive and very soon, everything shall be resolved amicably, while relying on the SWAN statutes.
“I have listened to aggrieved individuals, I have spoken to virtually all stakeholders and we are almost reaching an understanding,” he assured.
Isaiah who was till his resignation, the chairman of the Kaduna Chapter, attributed the success story of SWAN Kaduna to collective efforts by both the officials and members of the body.
“I couldn’t have succeeded as the Chairman of SWAN Kaduna, if the Excos and members had not cooperated with me.
“They supported me, brought good ideas and helped to implement these ideas and that is why we were successful,” he added.
