Calabar – The executive members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Cross River chapter have passed a vote of confidence in the association’s National leadership, headed by Honour Sirawoo.
The members expressed their solidarity in a statement endorsed by the Chairman of SWAN in Cross River, Mr Albert Andinam and the Secretary, Mr Dianabasi Effiong in Calabar on Sunday.
According to the chairman and the secretary, 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.
They said that the Sirawoo-led association had brought SWAN back to the fore, secured a secretariat at the National Stadium and a piece of land for its permanent secretariat (SWAN HOUSE) in Abuja.
The duo stated that the current national leadership of SWAN had constructively promoted sports development, regulated and coordinated the activities of members.
Andinam and Effiong expressed the association’s desire that the current leadership of SWAN at the state and national levels required support to actualise its lofty ideals of promoting sports through informed reportage.
They said that there were no need for rancour for now among constituent chapters of SWAN or between national executive and those of the states.
According to them, where misunderstandings exist, the gladiators should give peace a chance for the re-invigorated SWAN to move on.
“There are avenues to explore internal mechanisms for resolution of misunderstanding and record expected progress because through unity comes strength.
“The desire that Cross River 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 said in the statement.
They also pledged members’ desire and determination to support sports development in line with SWAN statutes, the National Sports Policy and global best practices.
SWAN, a member of African Sports Journalists Union (ASJU) and International Sports Press Association (AIPS) and inaugurated on Feb. 1, 1964 as affiliated member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists since 1985.
SWAN is also mandated to coordinate the activities of the Nigerian Media to promote sports and its socio-cultural values.