Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria, has voiced his support for Ushie Uguamaye, a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC,member based in Lagos, known as Raye.
This comes after she claimed to have received threats following a viral video in which she criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Atiku commended Raye for her bravery, referring to her as a representative of a new generation of politically active women who are dedicated to advocacy and democratic engagement.
“Raye is the embodiment of a new era of women who advocate for public participation and steadfastly defend democratic values in the political arena,” Atiku wrote. “I deeply admire her courage and insight, as well as her unshakable determination to speak truth to power, regardless of opposition.”
The former presidential candidate drew parallels between Raye and renowned Nigerian female political figures such as Gambo Sawaba, Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti, and Margaret Ekpo, who were instrumental in shaping Nigeria’s political history.
Atiku also called for Raye to receive support instead of hostility. “Raye deserves encouragement and not hostility.
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She represents the Nigerian youth and exemplifies the promise that the leaders of tomorrow are already here, eager to build a better future,” he stated.
Raye, who is serving in Lagos as part of her NYSC duties, garnered attention after posting a video in which she criticized the government’s policies.
She later claimed to have been threatened by NYSC officials, who allegedly pressured her to remove the video.
In the viral TikTok post shared on her account #talktoraye, Raye expressed frustration over Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions, stating that hard work no longer ensures financial security.
She also described President Tinubu as a “terrible leader” and questioned the government’s commitment to alleviating the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
There has been no official response from authorities regarding her claims.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has denounced the threats, stating that Uguamaye has the right to express her frustrations peacefully. The group urged the government to focus on addressing economic challenges rather than pressuring her to delete the video.
She reported receiving threats, allegedly from NYSC officials, demanding that she take down the content.
“Dear Nigerians, they have my address. In case you guys don’t see me online, please you know who to hold accountable. I didn’t do anything wrong; I just asked that they work on the inflation,” she said.
Amnesty emphasized that millions of Nigerians are battling extreme poverty and urged authorities to implement urgent relief measures.
Public debate continues over freedom of expression and the government’s handling of economic hardship.
Crediblenewsng.com
