The Vice President, Prof. Remi Osinbajo, has given the indication that the decision not to attend the award ceremony slated for Lagos on Monday, by the Role Soyinka Investigative Journalism Centre, is his.
His office on Monday made public the letter he wrote to the organisers of Anti-corruption Defender Award of 2019.
One of the reasons, according to him, is that attending the ceremony amounted to insensitivity based on what happened in the Sowore’s case.
he notes in the letter:
“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.
“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.
“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.
“Second, in view of the developments on Friday in the Sowore case, I think it would be insensitive and inappropriate to attend the ceremony.
“Please accept my heartfelt apologies and extend the same to the other members of the organising team. God bless you,” the letter reads in part.
