Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, ( SWAN) Ebonyi state chapter, Friday described Ebonyi state Governor, David Nweze Umahi, as a man who has shown his desire to revive sports in the state.
The group commended Governor Umahi, for his presence at the School Sports Competition right from its local government elimination series.
The Association stated this in a communique issued at the end of it’s meeting held at Pa Oruta Ngele Township Stadium Abakaliki.
The meeting had in attendance the executives and members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State Council, who are also members of SWAN.
At the meeting, members of the Association, reiterated their confidence in the Tony Nwizi led NUJ as well as Comrade Edward Nnachi, led SWAN.
The communique reads: SWAN, the Ebonyi State chapter, foremostly thank God for his grace and protection of all athletes, officials, school authorities, media and all those involved in the on-going epoch making school sports competition, in the wake of the present security challenges confronting the country.
“The Association commends the indefatigable Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief (Engr) Dr. David Umahi, for his presence at the competition right from its local government elimination series. The governor has amply shown his desire to revive sports in the state and use the sector as an avenue to make youths harness their talents, be positively empowered and shun crime.
“We also commend the tenacity of the ebullient Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports in the State, Hon. Charlse Akpuenika, whose ministry in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education and the Office of the SSA to the Governor on Investment, has ensured a hitch-free competition.
” We pledge our unalloyed support to the State Government and vow to continue propagating its policies and programmes in sports to achieve its goals in the sector.
“We pledge our unflinching loyalty to the National President of the NUJ, Chief (Comrade) CHRIS ISIGUZO, for his poignant dexterity in managing the affairs of the Union, which has impacted positively in the well-being of journalists in the country.
“We also pledge our unrelenting support to the State Council of the NUJ, ably led and anchored by Comrade TONY NWIZI for ensuring the welfare of journalists in Ebonyi State. The Association equally reaffirms its confidence in the Chairman of SWAN, Ebonyi State Chapter, Comrade EDWARD NNACHI, for ensuring the unity of members.
” We however urged the NUJ to seriously look into the nefarious and demeaning activities of some journalists in the state who impersonate the name of SWAN as a factional group and have turned themselves into tools of fierce propaganda and name-calling.
“We urge the NUJ as a parent body, to caution these behemoths of propaganda due to the debilitating effect of their activities on the journalism profession in the state. As the saying goes, “If a man defames another person in the market, and later retracts it; will all the people who were in the market on the day of defamation be there on the day of retraction?”
“We urge Ebonyi people and Nigerians to eschew bitterness, violence, hatred among other vices and embrace peace so that we can build a state and nation that future generations would be proud of and identify with.