A human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, revealed that youth corps member Ushie Uguamaye, who criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration in a viral TikTok video, is under pressure to apologize.
Sowore, who accompanied Uguamaye to the NYSC Local Government Inspector’s office in Lagos, stated that government officials, including ministers, have been reaching out to her to retract her comments.
In the video, Uguamaye expressed frustration over the country’s worsening economic conditions, citing the high inflation and rising prices.
She boldly described President Tinubu as a “terrible leader,” urging the government to take action against the skyrocketing prices.
“I want to know, what is the government doing about this increase? If a lot of Nigerians come out and start speaking about what we are going through, maybe changes will be made in the government,” Uguamaye lamented in the video.
Following the public outcry, Uguamaye alleged that she received threats due to her statements and was summoned by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for questioning.
Sowore, alongside a team of lawyers, accompanied her to the NYSC office, only to find that the officials were absent during their visit.
Sowore later shared an update: “We arrived at Eti-Osa LGI offices…but LGI officials had absconded, failing to show up throughout our stay.”
Meanwhile, journalist Agba Jalingo urged Nigerians to show empathy for Uguamaye, emphasizing the personal tragedy she has experienced, including the loss of her father, who died after protesting the demolition of his farm for a government project.
“It’s easy to condemn her for speaking out, but if you were in her shoes—where your father was killed by the system, and you’re struggling to make ends meet—you would understand,” Jalingo stated.
On the other hand, Temitope Ajayi, a senior special assistant to President Tinubu, called for Uguamaye’s expulsion from the NYSC, stating that her actions violated the organization’s by-laws. “Blatant disregard for NYSC by-laws should be met with full disciplinary measures,” Ajayi said.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions surrounding free speech and political dissent in Nigeria.