The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) has apologised to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for claiming to have initiated the suspension of an award it scheduled to give to him.
Prof Osinbajo had been billed to be given the Integrity Specialty of WSCIJ Anti-Corruption Defender Award until an announcement on Monday by the centre.
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But Osinbajo said in a statement on Monday evening that he sent a letter to the centre on Sunday saying he would not be attending the award ceremony because he was away in the United Arab Emirates, and secondly because of the rearrest of convener of RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore.
Mr Sowore was rearrested on Friday by the Department of State Services (DSS) after being released on Thursday night.
“…In view of the developments on Friday in the Sowore case, I think it would be insensitive and inappropriate to attend the ceremony,” Osinbajo said in the letter to WSCIJ.
The centre in a statement on Tuesday by its Executive Director/CEO, Motunrayo Alaka, said Osinbajo’s position reflected the true state of things, adding that the centre stands on its decision to award him.
“WSCIJ accepts the statement from the Vice President’s Office as the true position on its intended award to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo,” the statement said.
“An in-house communication gap caused the difference in the use of language and we accept responsibility for this.
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“The WSCIJ stands by its intention to award the Vice President the Integrity Specialty of its Anti-Corruption Defender Award.
“The board, however, shares his decision to excuse himself this year based on recent happenings.”
