BY: ZAHARADEEN SALEH, KANO
The incumbent president of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Benjamin Isaiah has accused the immediate past president of the association, Honour Sirawoo and his former aide, now deputy national secretary, Olalekan Ige of alleged diversion of funds belonging to the association.
Benjamin in an Online interview held last Friday, monitored by our correspondent has cried foul over the actions of his predecessors, on issues concerning the governing of the association, since he (Benjamin) took over the reins of office from Honour Sirawoo, that he has been pestering the new leadership of the association to do his bids.
He narrated that Mr Honour has been harassing his leadership, adding that his predecessor is hell bent towards securing the running of the affairs of the association by proxy, explaining that his refusal to concede to the demands from Honour had stirred up the plots to destabilize the new leadership of SWAN at all cost.
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He further disclosed that, on assumption of office, his predecessor had made attempts to stampede him into acting in ways that were contrary to the norms and laws governing the association.
Benjamin, speaking on the allegations made against him, over the monies generated during the last SWAN national meeting held in Rivers state, Isaiah said “ All allegations leveled against me are unsubstantiated.
“Thank God they never said I stole money, 900k was given to me, it was meant to be shared to the delegates that attended the triennial conference and I had sent it to the Deputy National Secretary (Olalekan Ige).
“Honour told me Ige collected #2m, from somewhere on our behalf, but only sent 900k and he should explain what happened to 1.1M.
The SWAN president further alleged that, Honour had refused to hand over all relevant documents of the association to him, as the newly elected president of the association.
In his words “No handing over note of liability nor asset from my predecessor. The certificate of registration was not even released.
Speaking on his visit to the minister of sports, Banjamin said “The Honourable Minister called me to quickly see him, as he wanted me to come for one or two things for him. I informed my predecessor who suggested some few names but the impromptu nature could not allow us.
“I even went to the two Chairmen that claimed to be SWAN Boss in Abuja along.
“Sirawoo and some NEC members thought we collected money even when there was no drinking of water that took place.
“The same thing Chairman, House Committee on Sports who came from my constituency in Kaduna. I later apologized as I explained the exigencies but. We later informed them that we had written an official letter to NFF on courtesy visit, but when the time to go, some of them said they didn’t have money to travel down.
“I also appealed to the Kogi State Governor to seek for blessing and there was no money but I need to build relationships with these personalities.
“Some of the NEC members were planted by SIRAWOO and accepted by me. He also wanted me to appoint someone as treasurer but I said NO that I will throw it open to NEC but he was not happy.
“He was not happy that I appointed Malikawa Garu but it was NEC that ratified Malikawa’s appointment.
“Malikawa was disqualified on the ground of being a media officer of Kano Pillars, but Nyong who is even the Chairman of Normalization Committee in Akwa Ibom is now the deputy President, and former vice president SWAN, South/South. He is even trying to become President. “
“Malikawa was disqualified on the ground of being a media officer of Kano Pillars, but Nyong who is even the Chairman of Normalization Committee in Akwa Ibom is now the deputy.
It was gathered that SWAN NEC have mobilized forces to quell the internal rebellion and unravel the corrupt practices that had taken place within the association, in close to one decade of Mr Honour’s administration of the common wealth of sports journalists in Nigeria.
The source said “ annoying details of all financial transactions have been obtained from the bank, to prove how SWAN monies were withdrawn from SWAN accounts, in the past seven years, it will be made public for members to see and judge things for themselves.
“SWAN has properties, Sirawoo did not account for them, he has refused to give handover details of all SWAN properties, we are tabulating the properties that are in his possession and we will inform members of all the details of our findings, but for now, no handingover note was given to the new president by Honour.