By Jonathan Ugbal
Global movement, Amnesty International and a former Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore have condemned the moves to silence a youth corps member, Miss Rita Ushie, who spoke out against Nigeria’s economic woes.
A native of Obudu in northern Cross River State, Miss Ushie says she has been summoned over her TikTok and Instagram posts where she broke down in tears while complaining about the terrible state of the economy.
“So, I am coming from a supermarket where I went to get foodstuff, and everything has gone up again. It’s just like every single week, prices keep increasing. I want to know, what is the government doing about this increase? Is there going to be a particular time when prices will stop going up?” Miss Ushie said in the video posted on her TikTok handle @talktoraye and on Instagram @iamraye_.
She continued; “Why am I going to get a crate of eggs, and I’m told it costs N6,500? It doesn’t make any sense that eggs would cost that much. I literally remember when eggs cost N800. I am so overwhelmed because this is the first time I’ve stayed out of my family house.”
The teenager who posited that; “After I left the supermarket, I got home, and the security and NEPA bills have skyrocketed, doubling in price. It is insane. I can’t keep up with these bills. Every single penny I make, I am using it to pay bills,” further averred that, “the money I spend on transportation is much more than the allowance the federal government pays us. We should start calling out the government. For example, Tinubu, you are a terrible person. What are you doing to help our economy?”
“Amnesty International strongly condemns threats and intimidation directed at a lady who posted TikTok video lamenting the current escalating economic hardship. The lady alleged that NYSC officials @officialnyscng threatened her for refusing to delete the video,” the global movement shared on its X (formerly Twitter platform).
Amnesty, which posited that; “Holding and voicing dissenting views is not a crime,” warned the Nigerian Authorities to, stop responding with violence and threats to individuals and groups who express dissenting opinions — in utter disregard for the Nigerian constitution and international law.”
“Millions of people in Nigeria are facing extreme poverty. So far, the authorities have failed to put in place effective mitigation measures, leaving millions of people without the hope of getting out of the economic challenges and enjoying their human rights,” the organization added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sowore in a tweet, said if the National Youth Service Corps “tries anything funny to intimidate, harass, or victimize,” her, he will lead a march on them with “utmost resistance.”
Her posts have sparked conversations on whether youth corps members are allowed to voice dissent.
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