By Segun Awosanya is trending yet again on Twitter but this time around, it is not for calling the attention of Nigerians to the injustice perpetrated by the Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS) before the call for its reform in 2018 by the Presidency but to reject the YNaija’s person of the Year 2018 Award.
The die-hard Nigerian advocate was nominated December 24th 2018 by YNaija, a thriving online news media firm alongside Atiku Abubakar, Chimanmanda Adichie, Davido, Kemi and was subsequently announced yesterday January 1st 2019 as editor’s pick for the Y!/Naija Person of the Year 2018.
According to the editorial board of YNaija, their selection of Segun Awosanya was borne out of their acknowledgement for ‘Segalink’s’ impact which was felt across all six geopolitical zones of the country, with families and communities being positively impacted either directly or indirectly by the activist’s tireless charge for a sanitized police force. He was also recognised for his controversial statements regarding the 57 suspected Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) men who were arrested in a police raid.
The whole scenario took a new turn when the supposed winner of the award took to his Twitter handle ‘@Segalinks’ to reject vehemently the award by the media firm. This sudden turn of event may not be entirely unconnected to the back and forth between him and the media firm on coverage of issues surrounding the #EndSARS movement as well as his comments on the LGBT report.
His Tweet read “I hereby REJECT your pretentious @YNaija Man of the Year Award 2018 that surreptitiously tried to blackmail me & cement your projection of prejudices on my character with the aim of impugning my integrity. Keep your Award and sentiments to yourself.”
Segun also commented that the award was a charade by the media firm instead of apologizing for misconceiving his statements on LGTB which at the long run, his organization was responsible for the release of the arrested on bail. He therefore, expressed that he does not need the award by the firm to be validated.
YNaija is yet to respond to the public rejection by their 2018 man of the Year.
