The Trade Union Congress (TUC), Amnesty International, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi and many other Nigerians have backed Ushie Uguamaye aka Raye.
The young lady hugged the headlines on Saturday when she posted a video criticising government policies. In the video, she expressed frustration over Nigeria’s worsening economy and inflation, lamenting that hard work no longer guarantees financial stability. She called Tinubu a “terrible leader” and questioned the government’s commitment to easing the prevailing hardship.
She later claimed, in another video, that she had been threatened by officials of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who asked her to delete the video posted on her TikTok account.
In a recorded phone conversation, an unnamed official of the agency was heard telling her: “Are you normal? Keep quiet and bring down the video you posted.”
But Raye, who is undergoing her mandatory one-year national service inLagos State, has refused to pull down the video, saying: “Deleting this content is of no use because they already know me. However, deleting it means whatever they do to me, nobody would know.”
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Following her disobedience, she was summoned to appear at the NYSC office yesterday. She was accompanied by Omoyele Sowore, Festus Ogun, Yinka Oyesomi, Justice Ojienoh and others. Details of the meeting were unavailable at press time, but a source said the officials were not available for the scheduled meeting.
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajay, was one of those who berated her for comments. In a Facebook post, the presidential aide said Raye’s position as a corps member did not provide her the opportunity to criticise Tinubu.
“The issue is not about exercise of free speech or what she said. If she is not a corper she can say whatever she fancies like people do per seconds,” Ajayi wrote.
“Citizens can abuse a living day out of their President or any public official. It is normal. But a corper violated her oath and code of conduct here. That is capital punishment under NYSC.
“You can’t abuse the country you are serving as a corper under any guise and the symbol of sovereign authority which is the President. She should be punished to the full extent not just warning. She chose to be silly, then she should face the consequences.”
However, in another statement, Ajayi clarified that his comments were “twisted.”
“It is trite to say the maximum punishment under the NYSC protocol is expulsion; nothing beyond the established norms and laws is suggested or remotely implied.
“The NYSC scheme is a historic and treasured national programme that should not be sullied and ridiculed by indiscipline. It symbolises our triumph over division and consistent effort to forge a more potent and virile union.”
Ajayi urged citizens to abide by dignity, discipline, and respect for one another.
•TUC, Atiku, Peter speak
Reacting, TUC president, Festus Osifo, said the government has to develop the resilience to understand that people are frustrated, hungry and tired.
“So, if they decide to vent, I strongly believe that the government should not personalise it and go after such individuals.
“Imagine a young lady carrying out her NYSC function, what does she really have to do to bring down the government? So, it is about personal frustration that she has aired.
“I think that the government has to persevere much more, they have to be more tolerant, and they have to have this deep level of patience with Nigerians because people are passing through a lot as it stands today,” she said when she appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
Amnesty International also condemned the threats, calling for an end to the intimidation of citizens who express concerns over governance and economic conditions.
“The vicious threats to the youth corps members by NYSC officials and others must be withdrawn. Her rights and safety must be guaranteed.”
In a statement shared on X, Atiku eulogised her as a symbol of a new generation of politically engaged women committed to advocacy and democratic participation. “Raye embodies the spirit of a new generation of women who champion the ideals of popular participation and unwavering advocacy in the political sphere. I deeply admire her boldness and wisdom – her fearless resolve to speak truth to power, undeterred by the weight of opposition.
“Rather than being met with hostility, Raye deserves encouragement and support.
She is a shining emblem of the Nigerian youth – a testament to the long-held promise that the leaders of tomorrow are already among us, ready to shape a better future,” he wrote.
In a statement posted on X, Mr. Peter Obi, condemned the alleged threat to Miss Uguamaye
Mr. Obi said he has faced similar threats for offering constructive criticisms of government policies, insisting that such actions undermine democratic principles, adding that a government that silences its citizens is not accountable and is often corrupt.
He urged the current administration to reconsider its approach to dissent and recognise the importance of constructive criticism in a democracy.
“The National Youth Corps member, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, also known as Raye, recently had an experience that highlights a troubling trend in our nation — one where voices of reason and truth are met with intimidation rather than dialogue and engagement,” he wrote.
“Reports indicate that she has faced threats from NYSC officials simply for expressing her concerns about the current administration. This pattern is not isolated.
Credit: Sun news online (read the concluding part in Sun)