The President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Sir Honour Sirawoo has expressed disappointment in the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ NEC) over its dramatic vote of confidence in its President Christopher Iziguzo.
Sirawoo questions the credibility of members of the NUJ NEC if they could not take into cognizance the various court cases hanging on Iziguzo’s neck.
“It’s only the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) that a President with series of criminal cases in courts bordering on certificate forgery, several identities and no visible achievements can enjoy a vote of confidence” Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) President, Sir Honour Sirawoo has said.
He argued that a responsible NEC with regard for the sacrifices of past leaders of NUJ and the responsibilities placed on the media should have asked Chris Isiguzo Isinguzoro to step aside and face a Committee of the Union that should thoroughly investigate all the allegations against him, particularly his certificates and name controversies.
Sirawoo who stated this in a chat with newsmen said, all that the NUJ leadership is known for now is plate carrying, stressing that nobody takes them seriously.
The SWAN boss who was a onetime chapel Chairman of NUJ in Rivers State alleged that Chris Isiguzo became NUJ president through fraudulent means, “so what do you expect” he queried; adding that a vulture can’t give birth to an eagle.
“The Constitution of the NUJ is clear. To contest for a position in the Council, you must have been a Chapel officer and to contest for a National office; you must have served as a Council officer; which of these offices did he serve before becoming National President. How was he cleared and Who cleared him?
“I heard they were in Asaba, Delta State where they drank all through the night, only to gather the next day to disturb media space with a purported communique; wherein the position of a court in Ogun and Abuja were dismissed by the almighty NEC, without a stay of execution
“We are waiting for them, we will teach them how to respect institutions in a country where there’s law and order” he stressed.
Sirawoo observed that NUJ contemplating conducting an election for SWAN is rather unfortunate and shows how uninformed the NEC members may have been.
“Let me call on our members to remain firm, focused and committed. SWAN is not perturbed with such antics of the NUJ president whose conduct has factionalized the Union, with the recent creation of the Association of Nigerian Journalists (ANJ)” Sirawoo said.
