Osinbajo States Position on Wole Soyinka Award
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has cleared the air over the postponement of the 2019 Integrity Specialty of the Anti-corruption Defender Award to be conferred on him by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ).
It could be recalled that WSCIJ, had, in a press statement signed by its Executive Director/CEO, Motunrayo Alaka, said Osinbajo shares the awareness and the inappropriateness of the award with the issue surrounding the convener of RevolutionNow Protests, Omoyele Sowore who has been rearrested by the Department of State Service over treason and some other charges.
However, the vice president had in a letter to the center on 8th of December, 2019, said his engagement in Abu Dhabi where he will be speaking at an international meeting under the auspices of the government of the UAE coincides with the Award and as such won’t be available at the Awards.
READ: Sowore: Discipline Osinbajo, other lawyers in cabinet, Falana tells NBA
The Vice President also stated that it will be “insensitive and “inappropriate to receive the award on the heels of the rearrest Sowore, on Friday, 6th of December.
The Centre had on Monday, said the Award for Osinbajo, was suspended to “align with protests against the repression of freedom of speech in recent times especially the incident between the DSS and Sowore.
They also claimed that the decision to suspend the award was reached by both parties.
Not pleased with the reasons cited by the center, the presidency on Monday evening via its Twitter handle, @NGRPresident, released the details of the letter sent to the centre.
READ: Osinbajo to Be Honoured With Anti-Corruption Defender Award
See the series of tweets from the Presidency below.
“Please accept my heartfelt apologies and extend the same to the other members of the organizing team. God bless you.”
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— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) December 9, 2019
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“Second, in view of the developments on Friday in the Sowore case, I think it would be insensitive and inappropriate to attend the ceremony.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) December 9, 2019
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“However, two reasons explain my absence. First is that I am currently in Abu Dhabi for an international meeting under the auspices of the government of the UAE where I am the keynote speaker.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) December 9, 2019
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“The award, I note, is for our Justice reform efforts in Lagos State. I had accepted the award with pride on behalf of the excellent Justice Sector team we had.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) December 9, 2019
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“I am extremely grateful for the recognition and award of the “Integrity Specialty of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism’s Anti-corruption Defender Award of 2019” to me.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) December 9, 2019
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OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESS RELEASEFOR THE RECORDS:
VP OSINBAJO’S LETTER YESTERDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 TO ORGANISERS OF THE 2019 ANTI-CORRUPTION DEFENDER AWARD
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) December 9, 2019