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By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Anambra State chapter has appealed to Anambra State Sports Development Commission (ASSDC) and Anambra State Football Association (AnSFA) to embrace roundtable dialogue with a view to end ongoing media war.
SWAN, in a statement signed by its State Chairman, Patrick Anaso and the Secretary, Dr Ikenna Nwokedi, also admonished both parties to cease issuing out threats to each other, even as it urged AnSFA to consider withdrawing the ban placed on the Commission's staff, Mr Chijioke Onyedika.
The statement read in part thus, "SWAN expresses its willingness to mediate in the impasse with a view to finding amicable resolution of vexed issues. SWAN appeals for an amicable and harmonious administrative environment for progressive development of sports and warns against actions or tirades capable of undermining growth in the Anambra sports sector.
"Roundtable dialogue between parties to reopen the symbiotic relationship and amicable communication channel between the Sports Commission and FA.*
Having viewed this unsavory trend, we the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Anambra Chapter makes the following calls:
"We demand immediate and total ceasefire by all parties on the subject matter, an end to all incendiary and inflammatory comments either directly by the parties involved or through their proxies, the need for sports activities to continue in the state without this type of avoidable face off now or in the future.*
"A return to status quo including withdrawal of ban and threats by the parties concerned, immediate and total ceasefire by all parties on the subject matter, An end to all incendiary and inflammatory comments either directly by the parties involved or through their proxies, the need for sports activities to continue in the state without this type of avoidable face off now or in the future, and a return to status quo including withdrawal of ban and threats by the parties concerned."