By: Mayen Etim
KADUNA, North-West, Nigeris – The Kaduna chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN), has suspended four of it members who flouted the directives of the National Leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ), not to attend the SWAN’s Triennial Delegates Conference that held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The Association in an emergency Congress held on Monday, October 14, 2019, at the NUJ Secretariat to deliberate on the issue which had led to factions in SWAN, had during the congress reiterated commitments to remain with the Mother Body, NUJ.
The Congress which was presided over by one of the Exco members (Treasurer), Abdulwaheed Adubi, after an extensive deliberation had in a Communique issued and signed by 18 members resolved as follows:
“SWAN Kaduna State Chapter commended the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) for her motherly and her firm decision on the 2019 Triennial Delegates Conference of SWAN.
“That Kaduna SWAN reiterated her cordial relationship with the parent body (NUJ) and not pulling out of the Union that its has been part of since 1964.
“That Kaduna SWAN members should look forward to a greater change in sports journalism and sports development in the state and the country at large.
“That SWAN Kaduna State Chapter is more focused to reposition the association in line with the constitution of the NUJ and the statutes of the body.
“That what gives us the Association’s full membership was first and foremost our bonding relationship with the NUJ.
“That NUJ, Kaduna Council should follow suit by adhering to its resolution which contained in her communique of the last NUJ Congress held on October 3, 2019, which stated that: ” SWAN members be law abiding and respect the mother body of NUJ, which instructed that none of its member should attend the Triennial Delegates Conference scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt on October 7, 2019 , warned that penalties await erring members.
“That all erring members who violated her directives and stance on the 2019 SWAN’s Triennial Delegates Conference be punished accordingly.
“That the action of the erring members is a calculated attempt to ridicule the parent body, the NUJ and urged NUJ to set a precedence in order to redeem the image of the Union to serve as a deterrent to others members who may wish to pull down the Union in the future.
“That SWAN (NUJ) Kaduna State chapter thanks and is calling for the understanding and cooperation of all stakeholders in sports while assuring of adequate and prompt professional service always.
“The Congress hereby suspended the below members for being part of those who had amended SWAN’s statues to expunged the portion that makes it an affiliate of NUJ; Isaiah Benjamin, Jacob Dickson, Abdulraheem Audu, and
Zakari Isa Haruna.”
After extensive deliberations, the Congress resolved to set up a seven man caretaker committee to steer the affairs of the association in Kaduna, since the members who attended the Triennial Delegates Conference in Port Harcourt had resolved to pull out of NUJ.
“Below are the members who were inaugurated by the Council Secretary, Femi Adi.
“Jacob H. Zango, Chairman;
Mayen Etim, member; Umar Abdulhamid, member; Zainab Tanimu, member; Benjamin Auta, member; Tunde Garba, member and Abdulwaheed Adubi, Secretary.”