Is SWAN just waking up?

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Yesterday, I celebrated the wonderful initiative of the Lagos SWAN. This has led to some responses to which I have felt it necessary to issue a first response. Here's the Lagos response to which I am addressing a preliminary set of issue-orientation.

Dear Jide,

We have noted your comments in the piece referred to here.While we feel flattered with you regards for us in Lagos SWAN, we regret that your reference to and the impression you gave of other chapters of our body was unfair and unacceptable to us.

I wish to inform you and let it be known that the national secretariat of SWAN fully endorsed and encouraged the Lagos SWAN emergency meeting resulting in the communiqué under reference. This was at the instance of our respected and capable National President, Saidu Abubakar, the Secretary General, Andrew Abah, the South West Zonal VP, Muideen Adeleke and the Deputy National Secretary, Babs Oyetoro, all of whom were in Lagos Monday, Oct 10, to pursue an important assignment for SWAN.
With the benefit of their presence, we discussed various aspects of the issues in reference and the national president duly conveyed his goodwill to Lagos SWAN on the programme before leaving Lagos on the morning of Wednesday, Oct 13, when the meeting held.

We deeply object to the insinuations contained in your comments as not the case and we wish to inform you that SWAN is one indivisible body determined to grow bigger, better and stronger together.

Thank you and please accept our sincere warm regards and best wishes.

Fred Edoreh

Chairman, Lagos SWAN

MY RESPONSE:

I want to appreciate the humble response of Lagos SWAN on my opinions on the General Assembly. Ordinarily, the officials are a bunch of responsive, responsible, humble and schooled persons whose personal values remain excellent. Their collective cannot be less valued. Beyond these lines, I also wish to state categorically clear that I hold my position on the issues expressed sacrosanct. I had expressed these same set of opinions long before now and still hold same as true.

SWAN in the light expressed by Lagos SWAN is not the reality of the SWAN that we used to have in this same Nigeria some years back. The individuals who occupy various offices as mentioned to have sanctioned the Lagos meeting helped SWAN to become the new SWINE. Since their election in Damaturu, how many times have they reacted or responded on any matter of sports in the country even as it affects we, the members?

It is not enough to occupy offices. What they did with the office is what makes them relevant. Most Nigerians are not even aware of their existence. Some years ago, we thought the Olu Amadasun executive was sleeping but this one led by my personal friend, Seidu Abubakar, is not only slumbering but is a swine.

Even on the same issue that Lagos SWAN took a wise and responsible initiative to discuss and come up with a communiqué if you may ask what is the position of the national secretariat (if at all we have one that is functioning)?

It is sad but true that the last time we had  a relevant SWAN in matters of sports in the country was during the tenure of Sani Zaria. Ever since then, we only have pockets of state chapters that took over the roles of the snoring national body. These views remain personal and I wish to stand by position.

WAKE-UP CALL: Why must it take the comments of Olajide Fashikun to make the national secretariat to wake up to what was supposed to be its duty. Even at that, she started on a cracked note with warning of Osaze Odemwingie. You can only warn your member. Secondly, the tone does not make the SWAN stand on the ground that a professional body should take on such matters. No more on that.

With a moribund and ineffective secretariat that at a point chastised the national president from issuing statements in the name of SWAN when she would not do. The same secretariat forgot that the national chairman can issuesuch statements.

Three, when was it resolved or did it become a norm for state chapters not to make statements on issues? Are we operating a confederal SWAN? I am not aware when the state chapters have become appendages of the national secretariat in matters of sports. There were years when we had a weak national secretariat. Then, Lagos, Kwara, Niger, Katsina, Oyo and Osun SWAN state chapters made up. Why were such states not ‘banned’ from such?

I rest my nerves for now.