Asaba 2023 NYG: Tonobok Receives New SWAN Governing Body, Frowns At Negative Reportage

By Ogo Clarkson

The Chairman of Delta State Sports Commission, DSSC, Tonobok Okowa, has expressed displeasure over reports by some negative minded reporters in the ongoing 7th edition of the National Youth Games, NYG.

While refuting reports that suitable camps or accommodations were not provided to athletes by some reporters, he said such failed to get accurate facts.

“The fact that Delta State can host over 13,000 athletes and officials in 2022 Nation Sports Festival, NSF, what is 5000 athletes we cannot accommodate”.

While receiving the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), led by her President, Isaiah Kemje Benjamin, on a courtesy visit in his office, he revealed that the pictures taken by the reporters was when some states came very late at night and a palliative arrangement was done for them that moment.

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“Some states contigents came very late with more than the numbers of registered athletes and officials and they were left to manage themselves that night”.

“The participating states are not complaining. I cannot be an enemy with anybody that has to do with sports because of my passion. Go round if people are not happy, you can tell the world. The issue basically was necessitated due to the postponement and it was picture taken on the arrival day,” he said.

“When a man is trying to work and serve, some people cook up stories, it is not the best. When a man is trying to step up and you see people trying to pull him down, it’s not the best for sports.

“At international level, how many of our people are at the top, but before you grow they pull him down.

“There is nothing wrong in writing, however, write facts. Some people, maybe two are trying to pull us down, they are tagging with Sahara Reporters.”

“Before we started the NYG, we addressed the press and the MOC, you know this games was supposed to start on 7th but postponed, now schools are opened and some schools because of exams they couldn’t let us use their hostels.

“We agreed with the states that we are not going to provide bed for all, but we will provide mattresses.If we were able to host the 13,000 athletes that came for the NSF, what makes it difficult for about 5,000 athletes,” he queried.

In response the President of SWAN, Isaiah Benjamin said the fact that it will be difficult to stop negative reports from some sessions of the media, he assured Tonobok that the apex body of the association will give factual and professional reportage on the ongoing 7th NYG.