Human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has extended his support to Ushie Rita Uguamaye, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member at the centre of a growing controversy after she posted a viral video criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a video shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Sowore revealed that he had met with Uguamaye in Lagos and would be accompanying her to the NYSC Local Government Inspector (LGI) office. He also confirmed that a team of lawyers would be present during the visit.
“The journey with youth corper, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, has commenced in Lagos. She is scheduled to appear before the LGI today and we will escort her to their offices. We are all en route with attorneys,” Sowore wrote in the caption, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
The 2023 NYSC member became the subject of intense scrutiny after posting a TikTok video in which she openly criticised the economic conditions in Nigeria and expressed dissatisfaction with President Tinubu’s leadership.
The video quickly went viral, sparking a heated national debate on free speech, political dissent, and the risks associated with speaking out against the government.
Uguamaye subsequently claimed that she had received threats in response to her comments, further intensifying the controversy.
She also shared a screenshot on social media of an invitation from the NYSC, summoning her to appear at the LGI office at Eti Osa 3 on Monday at 10:00 a.m.
Sowore’s involvement has brought even more attention to Uguamaye’s case, with many watching closely to see how the NYSC and other authorities will respond to the incident. The activist’s public backing highlights the ongoing concerns about freedom of expression in Nigeria, particularly among young people.
As of now, the NYSC has yet to release an official statement regarding the matter.
Uguamaye’s case has drawn widespread support from various quarters, including political figures and human rights advocates, who view her situation as emblematic of the broader challenges to free speech and political expression in the country.
RELATED NEWS:
SERAP threatens legal action against NYSC over corper’s intimidation
Amnesty slams NYSC for threatening Lagos corper over anti-Tinubu video
