By Albert Akota
The attention of the National Secretariat of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has been drawn to a communique issued by a group masquerading as the FCT chapter of the Association.
Our fast check with the Chairman of SWAN in Abuja, Mr. Ndubueze Chidoka revealed that the chapter did not hold any congress adding that they usually publicize their congresses to the knowledge of all members of the Association.
It was further gathered that the rogue communiqué was written by attention seekers who are only bent on hoodwinking unsuspecting sports administrators and members of the public for their selfish interests.
In the communiqué the impostors exposed their avarice and outright ignorance of the Statute of SWAN by delving into areas that only the National Secretariat has the mandate to act upon.
Article 16 (l) of the SWAN Statute as amended states that; No state chapter shall have powers to relate with federal agencies/establishments or administrators on any issue concerning the Association, in or outside its domain without approval from the National Secretariat.
So it is rather laughable that the amorphous group in their fantasy ended up addressing only issues that concerns the Federal Ministry Youth and Sports and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Probably they were so imbued with their building a castle in the air that they never cared to ask questions.
If not, they ought to have known that the National Secretariat had long addressed the issues of the unnecessary derailment of the D’Tigress Basketball team who have been disqualified from the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup as well as discussing with the NFF concerning returning SWAN as a member of the board of the federation.
Similarly, concerning the forthcoming elections into the board of the NFF, the National Secretariat of SWAN in conjunction with the Association for Better Organized Nigerian League and Professionally Managed Teams is organizing a Zoom Debate for the Presidential Candidates.
In due time, the date and modalities for the debate would be made public. See Article 16 (m).
We therefore urge members of the general public and especially the Ministry of Sports and the NFF to refrain from identifying with these characters because they do not have the mandate of the National Secretariat of SWAN to dwell in such matters.
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