…Kaduna blazes trail, says better days expected

By JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON

Following his emergence as the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) at the prestigious Krisdera Hotel, Omoku, Port Harcourt Rivers State on July 13, 2023, congratulatory messages have been pouring in from state chapters of the association.

SWAN), Kaduna State Chapter blazed the trail in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Shehu Abdullahi and Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson respectively.

“We are excited by the victory our former chairman, Isaiah Benjamin recorded at the Triennial Delegates Conference of our great SWAN, tagged, “Rivers 2023” at the historic Omoku Community.

“We therefore, congratulate him for the feat. We also commend the electoral umpire, SWANECO, headed by Sunny Ogele.

” To our immediate past president, we are grateful for supervision of a hitch free election,” the statement said.

Kaduna SWAN also praised the opponent of Mr. Benjamin at the polls, a seasoned journalist, Alhaji Sadiq Moyoyo for his excellent spirit of sportsmanship.

“Alhaji Moyoyo was the hero of the day for accepting the outcome with an open heart and congratulating Mr. Benjamin with a warm hug, which immediately created an environment of peace that is needed for progress of our great association, ” it said.

The statement also thanked all the delegates at the election for giving their ex chairman the needed support.

“We use this opportunity in congratulating all others that contested the polls. For those that won, we implore you to rally round our brand new president and accord him the necessary support to lead our association to greater heights.

” We also thank our hosts, Rivers SWAN and our brand new patron, Chief Felix Obuah for unrivalled hospitality received during the triennial delegates conference. God bless you all, ” the statement prayed.

Similarly, Lagos SWAN In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Olatutu Oladunni and Bello Omotunde respectively, described the Trienial Delegate Congress as a distinct and commendable one that will remain indelible in times to come.

“The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos State Chapter congratulates the new President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Isaiah Kemje Benjamin, following his resounding victory at the polls on Thursday 13th July 2023.

“On behalf of all esteemed members of Lagos SWAN home and abroad, we rejoice and felicitate the newly elected President and all other national officers that will be working with him for the next three years .

“Most importantly, we also congratulate our own leaders who emerged from the South West zone respectively, the former Chairman of Ekiti SWAN, who now emerged as the Vice president South West zone, the immediate past Vice President South West Zone who was also the former chairman SWAN, Oyo State chapter, Oluwaseun Ajayi-Obe who also emerged as ex- Officio in the just concluded National election.

“We are excited by the victory of Isaiah Benjamin recorded at the Triennial Delegates Conference of our great professional body SWAN, tagged, “Rivers 2023”.We therefore, congratulate Hon. President for the well deserved feat.

“In the same vein, we also commend the electoral umpire, SWANECO, headed by Sunny Ogele.

“To our immediate past president Sir. Dr. Honour Sirawoo who was able to create a big shoe for the new executives to wear, we are grateful for supervision of a hitch free, peaceful and credible election.

“Also, Lagos SWAN also commends other candidates most especially a seasoned journalist, Alhaji Sadiq Abubakar Moyoyo for the excellent spirit of sportsmanship he displayed during the process.

“We tag the immediate deputy president as the mandela of our time for spirit of love showed after the election result, as he said it is not a do or die affair which really unveiled another side of his personality to all delegates present.

“Alhaji Moyoyo was the hero of the day for accepting the outcome with an open heart and congratulating Mr. Benjamin in a warm embrace and sweet soft spoken felicitation expressions which immediately created an atmosphere of peace,rejuvenation and love that is needed for progress of our great association.

Chairman Lagos SWAN said, a time has come for a deeper reflection for all credible members of SWAN across the nation.

“A time to move forward, a time to advance for positivity, a time to become an amiable unifying body, a time to integrate into political institutions , corporate bodies and foreign parastatals as this will Invigorate the relevance and recognition of our professional body within the socio-economic and sociopolitical spheres respectively.x

Olatutu Oladunni further said the Lagos State Chapter has been the pride of the association for decades and we are very confident that a stabilised structure with credible policies in line with the constitution will enable lagos state chapter stand test of time which has begin to emanate despite the challenges.

“We can confidently say that a work in progress is ongoing which includes all of us as members so we can all arrive a suitable destination of testimony that will remain indelible in the memories of future generations who will eventually take over the baton in years to come.”

Lagos SWAN also used the medium to commend the host State SWAN Rivers State chapter, under the leadership of Sarah David who is also the first female SWAN Chairman in Nigeria and South-South zone, for a great warm reception they extended to all members and the beautiful experience we had at the Omoku town. We look forward to a better and smoother collaboration with Rivers SWAN in the nearest future.

“Moreso, courtesy of our newly inducted Grand Patron Sir. Chief FELIX OBUAH who made it mandatory to give us the feel of home in his highly intimating luxurious castle that is incorporated with a classic angloxasin style Chapel which has the statue of the twelve disciples of christ, a lake, a zoo, a sports center , an exotic lounge and amusement parks respectively. We appreciate the special hosting as it serves as a unifying factor of utmost integration.”

Following the trend, Kebbi SWAN also congratulated the newly elected National Executives of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria led by the National President, Mr. Isaiah K. Benjamin over their victory at the just concluded National Delegate Triennial Conference in Omoku.

This was contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi the Kebbi State Capital by the SWAN State Secretary, Abdullahi Musa Yalmo.

The statement further expressed satisfaction with the way and manner the election was keenly contested and delegates from states across the country decided who becomes their leader.

In the statement, the electoral umpire as well as the immediate past leadership of the association were commended for the overwhelming role they played to ensuring the success of the polls, calling on the new leadership to silence all differences and carry every member along for the overall development of sports in general.

While wishing delegates safe return to their various destinations, Kebbi State Chapter of SWAN assured the necessary support to the Mr. President and his cabinet to succeed maximally.

Yobe chapter in a statement signed by its Secretary, Joel Duku
conveyed warm felicitations to the new National President, Comrade Isiah Benjamin and his entire executive council.

“Mr. President, you are taking over SWAN at a time when the stakes are high. As you are aware sir, the last leadership of the association under Dr. (Sir) Honour Sirawoo has raised the bar and so the need to sustain the tempo cannot be an option. It is our prayers that God will give you the desired courage and wisdom to achieve that.

“We also want to appeal to other contestants who lost in the elections that the time of politics is over and we must all heal fast for the interest of a greater SWAN for the benefit of all.

“Once again congratulations to you all,” it said.

Similarly, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Nasarawa State Chapter have also congratulated Comrade Isaiah Benjamin and fellow newly elected Executive.

This was expressed in a statement signed by the chairman, Isa Mohammed and Secretary,
Smah George.

“This indeed comes with additional responsibility of ensuring that you build on already foundation laid by your predecessor with a view to making SWAN an envy of all.

“The Nasarawa State Chapter of the Association is particularly calling on the new Executive to begin the process of reconciliation and rebuilding process across different divides and expressed Confidence that the ISAIAH Benjamin’s led Team will not fall the hands of members by making sure that SWAN members across the country are accorded the necessary attention and respect.

“The association wishes you well as you settle down for business just as the Association is calling on all an sundry to forget the past and join hands to better the lots of the association,” it said.

From Bauchi SWAN, its chairman, Mahmud Yakubu Mohammed in a statement, said the emergence of Isaiah Benjamin and other executive is an indication of boom in sports development in the country.

“Sports writers in Bauchi state congratulates the Newly elected National executive committee of the sports writers association of Nigeria(SWAN) under the leadership of Mr Isaiah Benjamin.

“Your emergence as leaders of our great association represents a new period for sports development in Nigeria.

“As we pray for God to guide you in the discharge of your duties, we urge you to acknowledged the discontent among some agrrived members whom have within their rights expressed concerns over the process.

“On the other hand, we also appeal to those that contested and lost as well as those disqualified to rally round the new leadership for the progress of SWAN,” the statement said.

From the home state of Isaiah Benjamin’s opponent Taraba, the
Sports Writers Association of Nigeria congratulated him on his victory at the just concluded SWAN Triennial Delegates Congress in Omoku Rivers State.

This was expressed in a statement signed by Joachim Dangana Peters, Chairman.

“Like we all know, leadership or power comes from God hence the need to bury our differences at this time for the sake of the future of our great union.

“It is a truism that the contest was keenly contested which eventually saw the emergence of the new President.

“One thing we cannot forget in a hurry was the spirit of Sportsmanship exhibited by the former deputy President Abubakar Sadiq Moyoyo Dallatu Bantaje who despite loosing hugged the winner Isaiah Benjamin.

“In our resolve Taraba State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria will always support the present administration to succeed,” it said.