Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has released a copy of a letter written to the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism to excuse himself from a ceremony where he was to receive an integrity award.
According to the letter issued by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, the vice president stated that attending the event would be insensitive on his part due to the re-arrest of Omoyele Sowore, the #RevolutionNow protest convener.
Osinbajo disclosed this on Monday after the centre had announced that it was postponing the event so as “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.”
Osinbajo’s letter reads:
”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 development 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 organizing team. God bless you.”