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HOW FATHER OF NYSC MEMBER WHO CRITICISED TINUBU DIED AFTER PROTESTING GOVTS DEMOLITION OF HIS PALM PLANTATION
Journalist and human rights activist Agba Jalingo has narrated how the father of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, who was recently queried for calling President Bola Tinubu a terrible leader, was killed.
In a post on his Facebook page, Jalingo noted that the corps member, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, was 19 years old at the time of the incident that led to her father’s death.
“There are NYSC bylaws that prohibit corps members from engaging in certain activities, including openly criticising authorities. The penalties are severe, and I acknowledge that Corper Ushie Rita Uguamaye violated the rule book. However, I want to explain why I believe she is a victim, and if I were in her shoes, I would not have acted differently,” Jalingo said.
Jalingo revealed that Rita’s father, an immigration officer, died after participating in a protest against the demolition of his palm plantation to make way for the Obudu International Airport.
Jalingo said, “She is from my hometown, Obudu, in Cross River State. Her father, an immigration officer, died in May 2019 after taking part in a protest against the demolition of his palm plantation for the Obudu International Airport.
“There was a demonstration by the youths and women of the Ukambi community against the destruction of their farmlands for the airport project,” he said.
Jalingo further explained that Rita’s father was rushed to the hospital after participating in the protest.
“According to a CrossRiverWatch report, her father, Mr. Raphael A. Ushie, a Chief Inspector of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the younger brother of Governor Ayade’s personal physician, Dr. Vincent Ushie, collapsed after the protest. He was first taken to a hospital in Obudu before being transferred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where he later passed away,” he said.
The report stated that the deceased had invested his life savings into the palm plantation and tried to stop the demolition.
“Her father, who was nearing retirement, had spent his lifetime savings developing a palm plantation in his village, Ukambi. Upon learning that farmlands in neighboring Atiekpe and Ikwomikwu had been demolished and that Ukambi was next, he rushed home to confront the bulldozer encroaching on his land,” he said.
“He arrived at the site in his uniform and stood in front of the bulldozer, attempting to stop it before other community members joined him.
“He actively participated in the protest but later collapsed. He was rushed to a hospital in Obudu, but due to the severity of his condition, he was transferred to UCTH in Calabar, where he died.”
Jalingo emphasised that the family was never compensated for their loss.
He said, “Not a single dime was paid to the family as compensation for the destroyed plantation or any other expenses.
“Ushie Rita Uguamaye, now 24, was only 19 years old when Nigeria’s inefficiency took her father away.
“Their struggling mother was left to single-handedly put them through school, and to this day, there is no hope that their father’s investment will be compensated.
“And now, this young woman, like many Nigerians, complains about the country’s economic hardship, and some people are calling for her head?
“If you were in her position—living in a country where the system unjustly took your father when you were just 19, leaving your mother to struggle, and when you finally express your frustration, the same system that killed your father threatens you too—where is the freedom of expression?”
“I believe that instead of making her situation worse, well-meaning Nigerians should sympathise with her and support her family in recovering from this tragedy,” he added.
Background
On Sunday, SaharaReporters reported that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had summoned Rita, a corps member serving in Lagos State, over her viral social media post criticising President Tinubu’s administration.
A message from the NYSC Local Government Inspector (LGI), seen by SaharaReporters on Sunday, directed Rita, with code number LA/24B/832, to report to the Eti-Osa 3 local government office by 10 a.m. on Monday without fail.
Rita had posted a video on TikTok under the handle @talktoraye, where she tearfully expressed frustration over the skyrocketing cost of goods in Nigeria. Her emotional post quickly went viral, drawing a response from the NYSC board.
She described Tinubu as a “terrible” President and accused the government of ignoring the economic hardship faced by citizens.
“If more Nigerians start speaking out about what we are going through, maybe the government will take action,” she said in the TikTok video.
“I don’t know if there has ever been a President worse than you, but you are such a terrible leader.”
She also lamented the financial struggles of corps members, stating that the NYSC allowance is insufficient to cover basic living expenses.
According to her, she often spends more than she earns due to the skyrocketing cost of essentials.
“I just came from a supermarket where I went to buy foodstuff, and once again, prices have gone up. Every week, things get more expensive. What is the government doing about this? Will there ever be a time when prices stop rising?”
“Why should a crate of eggs cost ₦6,500? This doesn’t make any sense. I remember when it was just ₦800. I feel overwhelmed because this is my first time living away from my family.”
“After leaving the supermarket, I got home and saw that the security and electricity bills had doubled. It’s insane. I can’t keep up with these expenses. Every penny I earn goes into paying bills.”
“What’s even worse is that Lagos stinks—everywhere smells! What is the government doing about this?”
“As an NYSC corps member, there’s barely anything beneficial about this scheme.”
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“The money I spend on transportation alone is more than what the federal government pays us as an allowance. We need to start calling out the government. Tinubu, for example, you are a terrible leader. What are you doing to fix our economy?”
