Members of the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Oyo State say there is no crack in the chapter and pledged their unflinching support to the Niyi Alebiosu-led executive.
This was contained in a communique issued after an emergency congress of the chapter held in Ibadan on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the communique was signed by the Chairman of the Communique Drafting Committee, Mr Akeem Abas, and Secretary, Adewale Tijani.
NAN also reports that the SWAN National Executive Council (NEC) had written a letter indicating that it had constituted a caretaker committee for SWAN in the state.
The NEC had hinged its decision on a letter of willful detachment from the association, which it, however, did not make available.
But the communique said investigation revealed that the Alebiosu-led Oyo SWAN had at no time written any letter to SWAN indicating willful detachment from the association.
“Our investigation revealed that the leadership of SWAN in Oyo State has never written any letter to the SWAN NEC expressing willful detachment from the association.
“We wonder why a caretaker committee would be constituted when the tenure of an existing executive is yet to lapse and NEC is yet to produce the alleged letter of detachment.
“Also, the Alebiosu-led executive had not in any way breached the provisions of the SWAN Statutes and NUJ Constitution to warrant a caretaker committee when its tenure is yet to lapse,” the communique stated.
It noted that the Alebiosu-led executive was duly elected in the state by members and would not support anyone or group to foist any caretaker committee on them.
The members resolved not to allow any form of distraction that would hinder the progressive programmes embarked upon by the Alebiosu-led administration.
NAN reports that the emergency congress held at the SWAN secretariat witnessed a large turnout of members who insisted that they would not condone illegality in the association.
