Amnesty International, Sowore, Blast NYSC For Summoning Corper Who Spoke Out Against Nigeria’s Economic Woes
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Amnesty International, Sowore, Blast NYSC For Summoning Corper Who Spoke Out Against Nigeria’s Economic Woes

Screengrab of the video shared by Miss Rita Ushie on Instagram and TikTok where she complained about the economic woes of Nigeria
Screengrab of the video shared by Miss Rita Ushie on Instagram and TikTok where she complained about the economic woes of Nigeria

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?”

@talktoraye

Replying to @🍒Sophia🍒 please guys I’m urging and motivating everyone to join me and call the Nigerian government out‼️‼️ Join the 30 days challenge, let’s start speaking up, stop being cowards and running away, use your voices, start with your governors they need to start price regulation.

♬ original sound – talktoraye
The first video by Miss Ushie where she called for a challenge to hold the government accountable
@talktoraye

Less than 24Hrs, I’m already getting threatened by the Government starting with the NYSC board‼️ Dear Nigerians they have my address Incase 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.

♬ original sound – talktoraye
The TikTok post by Miss Ushie including a voice call where she is threatened to take don her earlier post.

“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.

The X post by Amnesty International Nigeria

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.”

The X post by Comrade Omoyele Sowore

Her posts have sparked conversations on whether youth corps members are allowed to voice dissent.

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