Nasarawa Government Abandoned Journalists Covering AITEO Cup In Benin – SWAN
By Amina Mohammed, Lafia.
The Nasarawa State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), has condemned in strong terms the treatment meted on some of its members attached to the Nasarawa State contingent covering the recently concluded 2021 AITEO Cup Finals in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
While appreciating the gesture of the Commissioner of Youth and Sports Developments, Othman Bala-Adam, in carrying them along with regards to activities of the ministry. However, the conduct of officials of the ministry recently in Edo state came as a shocked to the correspondents.
Three members of the association were duly invited by the Commissioner to join the State entourage to Benin City to cover the AITEO Cup finals at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Sunday.
But even before they reached Edo state, arguments arose over their logistics between the ministry and the management of Nasarawa United led by Isaac Danladi, which is pivotal in getting the best out of the journalists. Nevertheless, they carried out their duties despite the difficult situation they were faced with.
After the state team’s painful loss to Bayelsa United, a 6:30am departure time was agreed for the entourage the next day. But the journalists who were also part of the entourage woke up and found out that the entourage led by directors of the ministry had left the state, abandoning the journalists to their fate.
All pleas to stop the vehicle so the journalists could catch up with them were rejected. The behaviour of the officials is highly condemnable and therefore demands an apology for the undignified treatment the SWAN members passed through.
The State Commissioner of Youth and Sports intervened and found an alternative transport means several hours later, but insisted that the inhumane treatment meted on the SWAN members be addressed to prevent it repeating itself in future.
