Benjamin Remains SWAN President, NEC Insists

The national executive committee (NEC) of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has called on its teeming members and indeed Nigerians to disregard write-ups making rounds, while affirming that Mr. Isaiah Benjamin remains the President.

A statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the SWAN Secretary-General, Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, described a certain circulating communique as unfounded and unknown to the leadership of the Professional Association.

While calling on members to remain calm, resolute and focused, the SWAN leadership said, “Ordinarily, we wouldn’t bother reacting to any conjured content aimed at smearing the image of the association but for clarity sake, we want to put on record that there hasn’t been any NEC meeting in January, 2024, just as we rightly informed few days ago that any meeting of National SWAN composition including NEC and Full Council will be after the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

“So, disregard any communique in circulation laying claims to any form of resolution from the NEC of SWAN.

“SWAN President together with NEC since assumption in office five months ago has been embarking on fruitful steps to right the wrongs of the immediate past leadership.”

which had bastardised the laid down structure of how the association operates in the past years with uttermost disregard to SWAN statutory standards.

“Be rest assured that no distraction will deter or truncate the ongoing efforts to unite and keep the association as one in every state of the Federation.

“Also, be informed that all decisions made by SWAN NEC during its last meeting on December 7, 2023 including statutory indefinite suspension of Muhammad Ibrahim Mansur from all SWAN activities over gross misconducts, and the appointment of Alhaji Rilwanu Idris Malikawa as National Ex-Officio as well as his supervisory role for North-West remain.

“By this, as SWAN members, we are enjoined to remain professional in the discharge of our duties both at AFCON and anywhere, as the SWAN leadership is always determined to guarantee everybody’s welfare.

“Also, we urge SWAN members to remain much on alert and trash any further move to smear our integrity as Members of Fourth Estate Of the Realm.”