Nkopso Effiong
The Akwa Ibom State Chapter Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mr Solomon Bassey may be suspended and subsequently sacked for engaging in bribery and corruption.
Solomon Bassey had two weeks ago, allegedly collected the sum of #500,000 from the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Monday Uko and Paul Bassey, Chairman of Akwa United, to suspend his secretary, Emmanuel Akpan for publishing in THE INK newspaper the protest by some shortchanged former players of Akwa United Football club.
It was learnt that the SWAN chairman after Emmanuel Akpan had reported a protest of ex Akwa United players, who stormed government house, demanding for their houses and money as promised by Governor Udom Emmanuel after winning the 2015 FA Cup, had approached Akwa United Chairman, Elder Paul Bassey as well as the Commissioner for Sports Monday Uko demanding for one million naira saying the cash will be used to settle sports Writers to stop further publications and airing of the protest. Paul Bassey had informed the SWAN chairman that he is a Journalist, that such cash is outrageous. The trio finally settled for five hundred thousand naira.
Solomon Bassey who wore a blue Jean, white shirt and a stripped blazer allegedly collected the money at Akwa United camp and pocketed same in the inner pocket of his blazer. It was gathered that Solomon Bassey had promised to use the sum of #500,000 to kill the story with an assurance that no media House both broadcast, print and online will further report on the protest.
We learnt that, after the said money was paid, it was believed that the said story had been buried, but surprising to the Commissioner and Akwa United Chairman, Elder Paul Bassey, a follow up of the earlier report was done on THE INK Newspaper with comments taken from the former and serving club chairman, and Nse Ubeh and Paul Bassey. Monday Uko’s position was also captured.
When this report was published, Paul Bassey and Monday Uko became furious and summoned Solomon Bassey asking him to refund the 500k since he couldn’t honour his own side of the bargain Solomon had begged and promised that he was going to do a rejoinder but he plea fell on deaf ears as Paul Bassey and Monday Uko insisted that he suspends Emmanuel Akpan as Secretary of SWAN.
An option Solomon Bassey accepted and after leaving the meeting rushed to suspend his secretary, Emmanuel Akpan without following due process. The purported suspension which was reversed immediately by the South South Zone of the Association, has since been condemned by both SWAN members in Akwa Ibom State and general public.
With this development, it is clear why SWAN in Akwa Ibom State may drift into anarchy if something urgent is not done on time about it. As members have since spoilt for war with Solomon Bassey. Vice chairman of SWAN,Theophilus Yurika, a Cameroonian who came to Uyo for a missionary work,but fell on the side, confirmed that Solomon Bassey collected the said five hundred thousand naira but pocketed it alone. He condemned the purported suspension of the Secretary by the Chairman saying Solomon Bassey took a personal decision.
Yurika spoke to this Reporter during the August NUJ Congress at NUJ Secretariat held in Uyo. The Cameroonian however pleaded not to be quoted for fear of Solomon Bassey suspending him for being disloyal. Meanwhile stakeholders of the Association in Akwa Ibom State have expressed anger on this development and may take drastic action against Solomon Bassey.
Speaking with Trail Reporters, when contacted, the state Chairman of SWAN, Solomon Bassey described the allegation as a total falsehood.
