A member of Professional Football Association of Nigeria (PFAN) Prince Harrison Jalla has described the purported ban on Anambra State Football Association (FA) activities by Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) as outlandish and counter productive.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that Prince Jalla while reacting to the ongoing misunderstanding between the Anambra State Football Association Chairman, General Chikelue Iloenyosi and Anambra State Chapter of Sports Writers Association (SWAN), stated that PFAN condemn and reject the harassment and intimidation.
According to Jalla, “PFAN have read with utter dismay the press release from the leadership of the Anambra State Sports Writers Association (SWAN) on the misunderstanding between some sports journalists and the Anambra State Football Association Chairman Ex-International Chikelue Iloenyosi.
“From the Anambra State SWAN public statement, it’s all about individual differences that snowballed into petitions against each other to security agencies that has absolutely nothing to do with Anambra State Sports Writers Association and the Anambra State Football Association as different entities.
“And it was a member of the Anambra SWAN that did the first petition against the Anambra State F.A Chairman who only did a cross petition.
“Moreso according to the Anambra State SWAN the matters before the security agencies are still under investigation. So why the hasty ban on Anambra F.A? What is its offence? Chikelue Iloenyosi as an individual is different from the Anambra F.A as an organization.
“Chikelue Iloenyosi, as Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association, may not need the Anambra State SWAN to function in a social media world. He would serve his tenure and leave office at the appropriate time.
“As fourth estate of the realm, what will the Anambra State SWAN benefit from reneging on its professional responsibilities over individual differences?
“The Anambra State FA Chairman, Chikelue Iloenyosi, is one of the most outstanding FA chairmen in the country today, with loads of awards to show for it, and the footballers’ block is solidly behind him and proud of his achievements.
“We outrightly condemn and reject this harassment and intimidation and assure the Anambra State SWAN that we stand with the General Chikelue Iloenyosi who is the Board of Trustee (BoT) chairman of PFAN in solidarity.
Angel Network News recall that SWAN Anambra Chapter slammed a total ban on coverage of activities of the Anambra State Football Association (FA) under the chairmanship of Chikelue Iloenyosi till further notice.
The resolution was made at its monthly congress held on July 25th 2024, in a statement signed by Chimezie Anaso and Ikenna Nwokedi, its Chairman and
Secretary respectively, advising members holding positions in the Anambra FA whether ad hoc or permanent to resign their membership of such committees.
