Controversy has trailed the conferment of the Award of Excellence on the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, by the South West of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The national body of the union also frowned at the appointment of the ex-governor of Osun State as its Grand Patron in Southwest.

Sources also told News Direct that the National NUJ had also suspended all activities of the Southwest Zonal executives.

When contacted, the national secretary of the union, Shuaibu Leman, told our correspondent that he is not aware of the development.

“I have been away for a while and I don’t know anything about the suspension of the activities of the Southwest Zonal executives. Call the president,” he simply said.

The national president, Chris Isiguso, also, exonerated himself from the suspension on Thursday.

Meanwhile, this newspaper obtained a letter by the National Assistant Secretary of the Union, Akorede Oyeyemi, announcing the suspension of the activities of the zonal executive.

The zonal executives on the other hand are bent on going on with the awards.

The ceremony is expected to be held Friday, March 26, 2021, at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo state capital.

Cc: Lalasticlala, mynd44