The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Oyo state chapter has rejected the dissolution of the state executive council as proposed by the national body led by Honour Sirawo.
Rising from an emergency congress on Thursday, members reiterated that the state chapter remains an indivisible body.
The national body had announced the dissolution of Oyo SWAN in a memo titled “NEC appoints caretaker for SWAN Oyo chapter” and signed by the administrative secretary, Martins Mejabi on 8th October, 2018.
But, in a communiqué signed by Adewale Tijani, Samson Akindele, Ayo Ademokoya and Tunde Ogunesan, Oyo SWAN condemned the dictatorial role of the national President of the association, Mr Honour Sirawoo, and stated that the decision is unconstitutional and
unbecoming of the person of the president whose dictatorial tendency is currently blowing wind of crises throughout the length and breadth of the association across the country.
It also called on its members who were appointed as caretaker members of the association to either accept or renounce their membership of the caretaker committee at the shortest notice of time or face the wrath of the association.
The statement reads: “The Oyo SWAN Congress condemned the dictatorial style of the SWAN National President Honour Sirawoo. The congress rejected the illegal dissolution of the Oyo SWAN Executive.
“The Congress maintained that the National President, Honour Sirawoo, has no constitutional power to replace a duly elected Oyo Executive with an illegally appointed Caretaker Committee.
“Oyo rejected the Caretaker Committee created by Mr. Honour Sirawoo and declared it illegal, unacceptable and anti – progress.
“The Congress gave Oyo SWAN members, appointed into the unacceptable Caretaker Committee, 24 hours to publicly dissociate themselves from the illegality, called caretaker committee or risk being severely sanctioned according to constitution of SWAN.
“The Congress warned the illegal Caretakers to stay away from SWAN office and any of its property or face the wrath of the Association.
“The Congress passed a vote of no-confidence on the SWAN National President, Honour Sirawoo and the NEC, and also declared Mr. Honour Sirawoo and his NEC members persona non grata.
“Oyo SWAN similarly condemned the forced resignation of Mr. Wale Alabi as SWAN Secretary General and the illegal suspension of the SWAN Assistant Secretary General, Mr. Wale Joseph.
“The Congress expressed their total support for Mr. Niyi Alebiosu – led Oyo SWAN Executive Council in their opposition to SWAN NEC over the arbitrary and illegal removal of the two national officers from SWAN NEC as the Congress backed the position of South West SWAN over the issue.
“The Congress expressed their displeasure at the roles played by the Vice President South West zone, Mr. Boye Ajayi in the removal of the two national officers.
“The Congress called for the establishment of a three man committee to investigate the allegations raised against Mr. Boye Ajayi which included non-performance, incompetence, poor representation, sabotage and betrayal of the zone. The Congress further frowned at Mr. Ajayi’s
anti – Oyo SWAN activities, warning him to note that the Congress has the power to recall him as he should also be reminded that he rode on
the back of Oyo SWAN to become the SWAN Vice President in the South
West.
“The Congress enjoined the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State Chapter, as the parent body of SWAN, to make its position on the crisis known to the public.
“Finally, the Congress affirmed that “Oyo SWAN remains a united, undivided and indivisible entity under the constitutions of SWAN and NUJ and that we shall resist any attempt to employ divide and rule gimmicks to take control of our collective psyche under any guise.”
