The Lagos State National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Eti Osa Local Government Inspector (LGI) failed to turn up in his office on Monday after he invited one of the NYSC members, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, following her social media video against the government of President Bola Tinubu. Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, and his attorneys, had been with Rita to the NYSC office located in the Eti-Osa LGA for the supposed meeting but was not present.
Don’t forget that the female Corps member was summoned to report by 10am on Monday at NYSC office, Eti-Osa LGA over the scandal of her anti-Tinubu TikTok post. But when she arrived with Sowore and her lawyers, the NYSC Inspector who had issued the summons was nowhere to be found.
Providing an update via his X (ex-Twitter) account, Sowore stated, “We went to the Eti-Osa LGI office of the National Youth Service Corps with youth Corper, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, in Lagos.
“She had been summoned to give evidence before the LGI today and we had gone with lawyers Festus Ogun, Adeyinka Oyesomi, and Ojienoh Justice, but the LGI official had gone AWOL, failing to appear while we were there.”.
“We are coming back! #RevolutionNow #tinubuisaterriblepresident.”
Notice that Sowere had earlier on his X shared that he was going with Rita to the LGI’s office and had stated: “The mission with youth Corper, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, has started in Lagos. She is to appear today before the LGI, and we will drop her at their offices. We are all proceeding with lawyers.”
LEADERSHIP reports that Rita was under fire after she posted a video on TikTok with the @talktoraye handle where she cried lamenting the rising prices of commodities in Nigeria and referring to Tinubu as a “terrible president.”
She lamented in the video about the economic hardships corps members were facing due to economic recession, mentioning that her NYSC allowance was insufficient to cater for even basic necessities.
So I’m from a supermarket where I had proceeded to purchase foodstuffs, and once more prices have gone up. It seems like each week there’s an increase in prices. I want to be informed what the government is doing regarding this increase. Is there going to be some particular time that prices will cease to increase?
Why am I going to purchase a crate of eggs and I’m informed that it is N6,500? It doesn’t add up that eggs must be this costly. I actually recall when eggs were N800. I am so wound up because this is the first time I’ve skipped my family residence.
She further highlighted the cost of expensive transport and bills, saying, “The transport money I spend is way beyond what the federal government offers us as an allowance. We should start criticizing the government. For example, Tinubu, you are a sorry fellow. What do you do regarding our economy?”The clip later went viral and generated both negative and positive responses.
Within 24 hours after posting the video, Rita posted another video on Instagram stating she received a threat of deletion of her video from NYSC officials over a call. Rita also posted a third video revealing evidence of what she had stated occurred on the call.
Rita also stated she was threatened that NYSC officials had her details.”.
“Those people know where I am and where they live, and now they began threatening me. It is that serious you can’t even just discuss the government because they think that they have chains to stop you.”.
“She was telling me I insulted the president. I did not insult the president; I said the president is awful. That is not insulting. That is a statement.” Rita also mentioned that she was told to report on Monday morning at 10:00am at the NYSC office.
The episode has triggered a general outcry, with the majority of Nigerians questioning whether corps members should be prohibited from discussing governance and national issues.
