Crisis ends as Cross River SWAN inaugurates new executive

The Cross River State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has returned to full activity following years of leadership crisis with the inauguration of a new executive at a Special Congress in Calabar.

The congress, held on Tuesday at Media Tribune, U. J. Esuene International Stadium, Calabar, brought together members, veterans and national officers of the association, and was seen as a major step toward restoring unity and professionalism among sports journalists in the state.

Declaring the congress open, Chairman of the SWAN Electoral Committee (SWANECO), Comrade Isoni Isoni, described the event as a historic milestone for the association.

He recalled that SWAN was formed in 1964 as a national body for sports journalists and operates under the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

“SWAN operates under the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), which is our mother body,” he said, noting that the association remains the only sports journalism body recognised by the Federal Government and the international community for sports reportage.

Isoni outlined SWAN’s role in grassroots sports development, explaining that the body helps to discover talents at the grassroots and project them to the national stage through publicity.

He added that SWAN also explains government sports programmes to local communities and offers advisory input on sports policies.

He acknowledged that the Cross River chapter had been weakened by internal disputes in recent years but said members had resolved to move forward.

“Today, we are united again as a body. We have buried our differences and turned a new leaf,” he stated.

Welcoming the reconciliation, Veteran journalist, Charles Eniang, said the congress marked the end of a prolonged crisis and expressed confidence that the association would emerge stronger.

Another veteran, Comrade Anietie, urged the new leadership to provide purposeful direction and respect the three-year tenure to avoid a repeat of past problems.

He also commended the National Deputy President of SWAN, Comrade Boni Nyong, for helping to stabilise the chapter.

Representing the Cross River State Council of the NUJ, Vice Chairman, Comrade Sunny Inah, advised the new executive to run an inclusive administration. Drawing from George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” he cautioned against exclusion and imbalance, stressing that fairness and inclusiveness were essential for lasting peace and progress.

In his remarks, SWAN National Deputy President, Comrade Boni Nyong, described the development as a “new beginning” for the Cross River chapter.

He noted that crises were not uncommon in unions, especially among intellectuals, but said leadership should be judged by its ability to manage disagreements.

“If you know where you are going, you won’t listen to every distraction,” he said, urging members to remain focused. He emphasised transparency and encouraged veterans to mentor the new officers.

In his inaugural speech, the newly sworn-in Chairman of Cross River SWAN, Comrade Mike Akpang of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), thanked the national leadership, SWANECO, veterans and members for their support.

He pledged to rebuild the association in the state and to justify the confidence reposed in his team.

The new executive team also consists of Chris Njoku in the role of Vice Chairman, Comrade Essien Ita serving as Secretary, Comrade Tina Todo as Treasurer, Comrade Musa Kutama taking on the position of Financial Secretary, and Comrade Ekpo James as Welfare Officer.

The Special Congress was attended by a large number of SWAN members from across the state.

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