The Anambra State chapter of Sports writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) yesterday in Awka suspended the Chairman of the association in the state, Mr. Damian Egwuonwu, for gross inefficiency and high handedness.

The meeting which was well attended by members of the association in the state with old members took place at the premises of the state owned television station, the Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS.

Moving motion for the stepping down of the Chairman, Mr. Patrick Anaso of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and an ex-officio of the association said that the chairman had failed in his leadership drive by not calling for meetings as enshrined in the constitution of SWAN, does not carry neither the executive nor the members along, runs the business of SWAN like a private business by organiSing media games without the knowledge of the executive or the members of the association.

The motion, which was seconded by Mr. Daniel Ukpai of NTA was however stood down by the chairman who said that Dan who is an Assistant secretary of the association is a member of presenters Association, hence he is not a member of SWAN and does not have any ground to second any motion.

His words: “In my capacity as the chairman of this association, Patrick that motion cannot stand. Patrick, you didn’t vote me in as the chairman of SWAN in this state and as for you, the person that seconded the motion, do not even have the capacity to second any motion because you are not a member of SWAN. I didn’t even know the secretary invited you to this meeting. If I had known, I wouldn’t have allowed it…you are not supposed to be here.”

Though the chairman had earlier said his reason for not holding meetings for more than a year was because of the pressure in his office over the layoff that took place after Governor Obiano’s assumption of office adding that it was a fault of his but urged the members to move on to the agenda of moving the association forward.

On his part, the state vice chairman of the association, Mr. Ikem Asika called on the members to thread with caution by following constitution and appealed to the chairman to treat the members as his own children as he is the head of the association based on the position he is occupying.

The members unanimously agreed that the vice chairman of the association should immediately step in as the chairman but while that was going on, the chairman attacked the NAN staff threatening to call security to throw him out of the vicinity.

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