By Correspondent in Benin
Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalong has challenged members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) to unite and chart a new cause for sports to serve as a uniting force amongst Nigeria’s diverse ethnic nationalities.
Dalong,who threw the challenge while speaking with SWAN members bshortly before the commencement of their Convention at the Tennis Court pavillion, Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin yesterday,also called on Sports Sriters to accommodate everybody for greater and more responsive SWAN
The former Minister told the Convention, shortly before the commencement of the events marking the closing ceremony of the 20th edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) that, the association stood to gain, if its leadership accommodate ‘everyone’.
While admitting that the gap between government, Sports sector and that of journalists had had negative consequences on sports generally, Dalong advisedthe SWAN leadership to accommodate; the good, the bad and the ugly,” because every character will be needed at one time or another to perform certain roles when the need arises.
“Sports sector cannot function effectively without journalists as major stakeholders, Dalong recalled his days as Minister, how he erroneously thought that journalists who were doing their job to ensure that Sports sector did not live up to expectations were his, ‘enemies’.
Dalong noted that 30 percent of successes he recorded when he was in office was attributed to positive criticisms from journalists.
Dalong,who commended the organisers sporting events, particularly Edo state government, for doggedness to ensure success against the odds, called on the three major stakeholders in sports; government, the media and private sector to come together for sports in Nigeria to attain the expected heights.
Dalong who reminded the journalists that it is the sole responsibility of National Sports Commission to take key decision in sports administration, was however quick to add that only SWAN could make imputs that would change the narratives needed for a more responsive sports sector to thrive in the country.
Responding, SWAN President, Mr. Honour Sirawoo, said there wrre no factions or crisis except for minor contentious issues held by few individuals who wdre not registered members but bent on giving bad impression about the association and its current leadership.
While commending the former Minister for maintaining his relationship with Sports journalists years after he left office, Sirawoo called on journalists who wished to be members of SWAN to go through the process instead of resorting to giving the current leadership bad name.
