Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, WSCIJ, has postponed the presentation of an award to Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo over the rearrest of the human rights crusader cum journalist, Mr Omoyele Sowore by security agents.
A statement by Motunrayo Alaka, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre, said the decision was reached following the rearrest of the former presidential candidate and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, on Friday, by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS.
It said: “The postponement was decided on, to align with protests against the repression of freedom of speech in recent times especially the incident between the Department of State Security (DSS) and Omoyele Sowore, Publisher of Sahara Reporters, on Friday 6 December. The Vice President himself shares this awareness and the inappropriateness of the award at this point.”
WSCIJ holds the award presentation event on December 9, the World Anti-Corruption Day and eve of the World Human Rights Day to highlight the importance of investigative reporting as a tool for accountability, good governance and social justice in a democracy.
The Centre had earlier announced that it would present an ‘Integrity specialty of the anti-corruption defender award’ to the vice-president for his “invaluable work of overhauling the Lagos State Judiciary, facilitating far-reaching reforms in the administration of justice in the state, his work of promoting integrity in the civil society and business in Nigeria and his consistency as a strong voice for promoting integrity in the country.”
Punch
