In a release dated Tuesday, October 29 which was signed by Shehu Momodu, the Assistant Secretary, the following reasons amongst others were adduced for the suspension of Wole Okpatola which include his refusal to accede to the directives of unanimously endorsing the former state SWAN Chairman, Ahmed Aigbona in the national Congress which was held in Abuja recently.
According to the release, “his (Okpatola) disobedience to the instructions of the NUJ to all State SWAN Chairmen and Vice Chairmen not to attend the kangaroo SWAN Election in River State on October 7, 2019, since the NUJ did not approve the conduct of the election in the state, as well as belonging to the camp of one Honour Sirawoo, who was in charge of the ill-fated elections and also abruptly declared that he and those in his camp are no longer under the auspices of the NUJ being the supervising authority”.
The resolution also stated that “since his leader of the alleged sabotage camp, Sirawoo asserted that he and his allies are no longer answerable to the NUJ, including his act of calumny exhibited by attending the suspended Congress in Rivers State, he can no longer be seen as a member of NUJ and by extension SWAN.
“It is worthy of mention that Wole Okpatola cannot remain the Edo State Vice Chairman, since he longer recognises the election that brought him and other EXCO of the Edo State SWAN as conducted under the NUJ and SWAN constitutions into power.
“Wole Okpatola is by this resolutions suspended from all SWAN activities and advised to hand over all properties of SWAN in his possession to the Secretary of the Edo SWAN as his refusal will amount to illegality of the highest, impersonation and administrative rascality.
“Just as the incumbent Financial Secretary of the Edo State SWAN and Deputy Sports Editor, The NIGERIAN OBSERVER, Comrade Idahosa Moses had been affirmed to step in as the state Chairman of the state SWAN with immediate effect.
