Gombe SWAN fixes May 4 for election
The Gombe State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (Gombe SWAN) has held its congress on Sunday, 14 April, at the Correspondents’ Chapel complex, Gombe State.
This is contained in a press statement issued to journalists in Gombe on Monday by Mr Peter Uwumarogie, the Interim Secretary of SWAN in the state.
Uwumarogie stated that the gathering addressed critical issues concerning the association’s well-being going forward especially with the expiration of the immediate past executives in the state and the need to ensure continuity in leadership at the state level.
The immediate past Gombe SWAN Chairman, Halilu Mohammed was quoted to have said that the congress provided the state executive with an avenue to engage properly on way forward by constituting an interim as well as electoral committee to see to the electoral activities that will herald a new leadership in the state chapter.
Mohammed highlighted efforts so far made in registering members of the chapel, adding that all members who attended the congress had been properly registered with the national body, noting that four members were absent from the meeting having taken proper excuse.
In the course of the congress, the members unanimously fixed May 4, 2024 for election while a three-man Electoral Committee to be chaired by Hudu Shehu of FRCN, Gombe while Peter Uwumarogie of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) is to serve as Secretary and Mr Barkuwa Kalla completes the committee.
The statement partly read: “the members addressed concerns regarding the attempts to create chaos in the leadership of the state chapter which almost led to emergence of an unconstitutional splinter group in the state.
“The members highlighted the role played by Mr Ismaila Uba-Misilli, the Director-General, Press Affairs, Gombe Government House in addressing the issue that almost created chaos in the chapel.”
As part of the recommendations from the meeting, Uwumarogie said that members expressed a vote of confidence in the national executive of National SWAN, led by Isaiah Benjamin while commending the Benjamin-led leadership in upholding SWAN’s standards and working for the unity of the association.
“SWAN Gombe Chapter urges its members across the state to beam searchlight on other sports besides football to ensure that other sports are given the increased media coverage they deserved; this is in view of the believe that covering other sports would help expose the several hidden talents as well as ensure inclusion of other sports and athletes in media reportage towards promoting others sports aside football.
“We urge the national body of SWAN to comprehensively tackle the threat of quackery in sports journalism as it relates to the association by ensuring that the platform remains only for practicing journalists and not merchants who have no interest in sports but to create disaffection and serve interests other than SWAN’s.
“This advice is coming in view of the recent registration of unknown fellows at the national level tagging them as sports journalists and members of Gombe State chapter; this is unacceptable and should be checked going forward through thorough screening in collaboration with the state leadership.
The sports journalists in the state also commended the State Government under the leadership of Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State for paying the licenses of all Nationwide League football clubs in the state as well as supporting them with vital kits; this the association says would ensure grassroots development of football in the state.
The association further encouraged the state government to continue such support while extending such supports to other sports in the state so that football does not always take the shine off others.
“SWAN Gombe also highly commends the State Council of NUJ, under the dynamic leadership of Comrade Saidu Malala for being proactive and protective of the wellbeing of journalists in the state whether SWAN or its associated bodies; this is well appreciated and we don’t take it for granted.”
