Featured

Group urges NUJ to dissolve SWAN National Elections Committees

Published

6 years ago

September 12, 2019

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has been urged to either immediately dissolve the 2019 SWAN National Elections Committee or witness a gradual disintegration of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).

The demand was made by a group of senior sports journalists drawn from several media houses across the country, through a letter to the NUJ President, Chris Isiguzo.

The group, in the letter submitted to the NUJ President in Abuja on Tuesday, said the time has come for the union to intervene in the “strange happenings’’.

In the letter signed on behalf of the group called “Concerned SWAN members’’ by two former Secretaries-General of SWAN, Andrew Abah and Olawale Alabi, fears were expressed about the upcoming SWAN National Elections.

“We have been worried by various events in the Association. We have observed that the …. events are very inimical to the continued existence of the Association.

“The failure of the 2019 SWAN National Election Guidelines to be derived from both the SWAN Statutes and the NUJ Constitution, as highlighted by the Lagos, Edo and Kano chapters of SWAN at recently-held Congresses, is indeed outrageous.

“The Congresses of these state chapters raised the issues of item 6 of the 2019 SWAN National Elections guidelines, which unjustifiably strips the SWANECO of the right to screen for voting delegates from the state chapters.

“This item therefore allocates the responsibility of clearing voters to the National Secretariat, thereby giving room for manipulation by the incumbent. This is wrong.

“Item 11 of the guidelines, which says candidates for the positions of President and Secretary-General must have served in any capacity at state chapter level and must have been a member of NEC, is also an alarming requirement.

“This is a contravention of the SWAN Statutes, as it twists Article 13 b (i) into making a mockery of the process. A Full Member only needs to have served at state level to be eligible to contest.

“Also, items 4 to 7 of the time table/schedule indicate that the candidates may not have enough time in between to be able to respond to the demands of SWANECO and may have to be criss-crossing the country at the detriment of their health and job.

“The prohibitive cost of the nomination forms makes it look as if the elections were already meant for a few, and it does not allow for fairness.

“Asking candidates to pay between N70,000 and N150,000 for nomination forms into offices is a way of saying the offices are for the highest bidders,’’ the group which has members drawn from the FCT, Lagos, Edo, Kano, Kaduna, Rivers, Oyo, Ogun, Bauchi, Enugu and Anambra state chapters noted.

The “Concerned SWAN Members’’ also cited as instructive the resignation of the SWANECO Chairman, Yusuf Alhaji Isah, saying it was an indication that all was not well with the electoral body.

“We should all take a particular note of lines 2 to 4 in paragraph 2 of Isah’s resignation letter stating due to some reasons which I consider threatening my integrity in person and also as chairman of NUJ Yobe state council.”

The group also frowned upon the inclusion of Gabriel Nwanetanya of Rivers State, who is the Chief of Staff to the SWAN National Chairman, Honour Sirawoo, as a member of the SWANECO 2019.

“This is aimed at muzzling SWANECO, and this has been seen in certain untoward ongoings in SWANECO and which have led to the Chairman’s resignation.’’

It further noted that the refusal to announce the venue and date of the election, even after two months into the tenure of the SWANECO, was suspicious.

“This is an effort at denying candidates the opportunity of having an electoral process that is free and fair to all,’’ the group said.

It added that the insistence on the possession of current identification card by both candidates and voters was in furtherance of a move which has been on since April.

“That is just a way of disenfranchising many potential members of the opposition, when many members have paid for their cards of 2019 since April at least and are yet by Sept. 10 to receive the card or have any explanation made to them.’’

The “Concerned SWAN Members’’ then urged the NUJ to immediately dissolve the SWANECO as presently constituted, with an order for an immediate handover of all related documents to the NUJ Secretariat.

“Also, the NUJ should constitute a new electoral body with a mandate to conduct the 2019 elections within the next six weeks in Abuja.

“While we trust that as a trusted mother union you will always act with the best interests of your members and affiliate bodies in mind, we will not fail to inform you that failure to act now will lead to the fragmentation of SWAN as already being witnessed by the formation of some splinter groups.”

Share on Facebook

Featured

Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles

Published

4 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

At just 18 and 20 years old, Chiamanda and Chiamaka Ononiwu — daughters of renowned Nigerian surgeon Dr. Charles Ononiwu — have achieved a remarkable milestone with the release of their debut inspirational books, Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls.

Their literary journey began six years ago, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was engulfed in fear and uncertainty, the then 13- and 15-year-old sisters turned inward, using writing as an outlet to process their emotions, express their faith, and reach out to others with messages of hope and resilience.

What began as a quiet act of creativity blossomed into two powerful books that now serve as beacons of light for readers navigating life’s storms.

Eighteen-year-old Chiamanda Ononiwu is the author of Do Not Be Afraid. A passionate Electrical Engineering student , she is also a proud alumna of Intellichild TLC and Valedictorian of Great Blessings School, Class of 2022.

In her book, she addresses the emotional challenges many young people face and draws from her personal faith to offer guidance and encouragement.

Her elder sister, Chiamaka Ononiwu, 20, is a final-year medical student at Babcock University in Nigeria. She penned Waterfalls, a heartfelt and deeply spiritual work she describes as divinely inspired. Chiamaka views her writing as a calling — a mission to uplift souls and bring hope to those struggling with life’s challenges.

“Personally, I would say it all started with the idea of inclusion, inspired by real human experiences,” Chiamaka shared. “We’ve had conversations with people who’ve gone through difficult situations — including issues and those stories helped shape what I write today.”

She added, “It’s all about encouraging people to face life with faith. We began this journey during a dark time in the world, and I felt called to create something that could offer comfort and hope — not just locally, but globally.”

The official book launch and signing ceremony took place on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and was attended by family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. It was a celebration of creativity, faith, and youthful brilliance, as the sisters presented their work to an inspired audience.

Speaking at the event, Chiamaka emphasized the core message of her book: “Waterfalls reminds readers that God is always watching over His people. He doesn’t bring fear — He brings peace, hope, and love. I want readers to find comfort and assurance in that truth.”

For Chiamanda, her book is a message to young people who may feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures: “Do Not Be Afraid is especially for youth navigating difficult times. No matter how hard life gets, you can always find strength and direction in God’s word.”

Writing came naturally to both sisters. Chiamaka recalled, “Even as a child, I loved writing short stories for my siblings. When the opportunity came to publish, I knew it was time to share my message with a wider audience.”

Despite their demanding academic paths, both young women balanced their studies with writing through perseverance and faith.

Chiamanda and Chiamaka are united by a shared dream — to inspire people across the world with their writing.

Chiamaka expressed Further; “Our biggest hope is that these books will reach people who need to know that God is real, that He’s always with them, and that through Him, anything is possible,” Chiamaka said.

With Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls, the Ononiwu sisters have not only created literary works — they’ve created lifelines. Their voices, grounded in faith and driven by purpose, remind readers everywhere that even in the darkest moments, God’s light never fades.

Their father, Dr. Charles Ononiwu — a distinguished surgeon and deeply devoted parent — also spoke at the event, sharing the journey from his perspective.

“For me, my number one priority has always been to care for children — not just medically, but also by encouraging them academically and in the basics of life,” he said.

He recounted a moving moment with Chiamanda, who approached him with the idea of sharing her story publicly to inspire others.

“She came to me and said she wanted to talk to her peers, to share how she had been comforted, and to help them see that everything would be okay,” he recalled. “As a father, my role was to guide her. I support both of them, help activate their strengths, and provide direction.”

Dr. Ononiwu made the decision to fund the publication of their books himself, believing in the power of their message.

“I told them, ‘You have something the world needs. You can make an impact in the lives of others,’” he said. “I believe every child has a gift. It is our responsibility as parents not to dismiss them, but to help them discover and nurture their talents.”

He encouraged all parents to support their children’s creative pursuits, noting, “Every person has something special inside them — no one is without talent. It’s just a matter of looking inward, discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world.”

Share on Facebook