The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos State chapter, has described the alleged invasion of its State Secretariat by some personnel of the Department of State Service (DSS) as quite disturbing and therefore urged the Service to refrain from dabbling into its (SWAN) affairs.
SWAN particularly challenged the DSS to discharge its responsibilities without favour to any party.
This was as SWAN condemned in its entirety the invasion of its secretariat on Friday, February 10, 2022 by some personnel of the Service without a court order or summon but allegedly on the orders of Honor Sirawoo, a permanent secretary with the Rivers State Government.
The Association noted that the sealing of its Lagos Secretariat without recourse to a court injunction or summon is ridiculous adding that it saddened hearts of its members that a government agency can carry out such an assignment without due process.
SWAN, in a statement by its Chairman, Debo Oshundun, therefore called for the timely intervention of appropriate authorities by stepping into the matter before it further degenerates.
Oshundun said that it is on record that officials of the DSS invaded the Lagos SWAN Secretariat without a court injunction or summon for their action contrary to any existing law that established it.
He further said; “DSS operatives stormed our Secretariat in three Hilux vehicles at about 10:00am with the sole aim of sealing the building.
“But shortly before sealing off the premises, the Operatives ensured that a Caretaker Committee was inaugurated to take charge of the affairs of the association despite duly-elected Executive Members inaugurated by the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
“After sealing off the Lagos SWAN Secretariat inside the National Stadium, the DSS operatives moved to Teslim Balogun Stadium with a towing vehicle to remove the Lagos SWAN bus given to us by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu with the instructions of Honor Sirawoo, the factional President of SWAN, who is the current Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Youth and Sports”.
“Sirawoo instructed the DSS to bring the bus to Port Harcourt. It took the intervention of the Chairman and Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission to ensure that the bus was not taken away by the DSS working with the instructions of a Permanent Secretary in Rivers State Government who invaded Lagos.
“On this note, we challenge the DSS to tell the world its role in the affairs of Lagos SWAN who in no way threatens the state security.
“We like to state clearly that there are no court injunctions or summons to the effect of sealing our cherished Secretariat. Such an approach reminds one of the Baboon Republic back in the day,” SWAN said.
The Association however said that in spite of the attempt to provoke its members, it urged them to remain calm and go about their business in the face of the latest antics.
SWAN called on the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), to as a matter of national importance intervene in the matter in order to ensure that the situation does not further degenerate.
