Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has risen to the defence of a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Raye, who slammed President Bola Tinubu over hardship in the country.
The corps member had criticised the government over increasing prices of goods in a video she shared across her social media handle.
She openly tackled President Tinubu, calling him a “terrible leader,” and questioned what steps the government is taking to ease the suffering of citizens.
She lamented that she could no longer keep up with the rise in prices of goods and called on the president to intervene.
However, she revealed she has been reviewing a barrage of calls and messages, some of which came from the NYSC secretariat in Lago, with a female official threatening her for what the official termed criticism of the government.
She said the female NYSC official also requested she remove the video and wondered when it had become an offence to advise the government on the way forward.
Raye shared another video in which she was receiving calls from an NYSC official.
In the video, the official could be heard saying, “Are you normal? Keep quiet and bring down the video you posted.”
The attack she has been subjected to has elicited a reaction, with many citizens throwing their support to her, warning against victimisation.
Atiku wades into the discussion on Sunday, saying Raye embodies the spirit of a new generation of women who champion the ideals of popular participation and unwavering advocacy in the political sphere.
He said he deeply admires “her boldness and wisdom—her fearless resolve to speak truth to power, undeterred by the weight of opposition.”
According to Atiku, Raye follows in “the footsteps of formidable trailblazers like Gambo Sawaba, Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti, Margaret Ekpo and countless other women who have stood resolute in defence of the common good.”
He stressed that rather than being met with hostility, Raye deserves “encouragement and support,” adding that she is a “shining emblem of the Nigerian youth—a testament to the long-held promise that the leaders of tomorrow are already among us, ready to shape a better future.”
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has condemned officials of the NYSC for the alleged threatening messages.
Reacting, Amnesty International, in a post on X/Twitter, said instead of threatening her, the authorities “should be prioritising addressing the country’s economic woes.”
“It is perfectly within her right to express discontent peacefully. Instead of threatening her for her opinions on rampant inflation, the authorities should be prioritising addressing the country’s economic woes.
“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 Nigerian authorities must stop responding with violence and threats to individuals and groups who express dissenting opinions—in utter disregard for the Nigerian constitution and international law. Holding and voicing dissenting views is not a crime,” the human rights organisation said.
