An award scheduled to be conferred on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo today, Monday has been postponed till further notice over the ongoing matter between Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The award was to be conferred on Osinbajo, alongside others on Monday evening by
Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ).
In a press statement mailed to The State Online on Monday morning however, Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director/CEO of the centre said while the others would get their awards as scheduled, Osinbajo’s own has been postponed.
According to her, “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 Omoleye 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.
“The award presentation programme will hold as scheduled on Monday, 9th December 2019 by 6pm. 13 journalists from print, online, television, radio, photo, and editorial cartoon categories will be celebrated. Veteran photojournalist, Sunmi Smart-Cole and Amnesty International Nigeria will also be presented honorary awards of the Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence and the Anti-Corruption Defender Award (Human Rights Specialty) respectively.
“The 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 award event is free to attend for members of the general public.”