Peter Obi Takes Stand On NYSC Corps Member Who Called Tinubu ‘Terrible President’

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, Mr Peter Obi, has said that the pattern of intimidation adopted by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to silence opposing views of people, discourages free speech and makes it difficult for the country to progress.

Mr Obi, who stated this while speaking on the position of Miss Ushie Rita Uguamaye, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who is allegedly facing threats from officials of the Scheme following her criticisms of President Tinubu’s economic policies that have made life difficult for Nigerians, warned that suppressing dissenting voice undermines democracy and good governance.

Obi, in a statement on his X handle, stressed that a government that silences its citizens often lacks accountability and transparency.

While condemning the alleged intimidation of the Miss Ushie Rita Uguamaye, Obi urged the Tinubu administration to embrace dialogue as against repression on the issue of the NYSC corps member.

Obi shared his own experiences with harassment, saying that he has faced threats and name-calling simply for offering constructive criticism of government policies and therefore called on Nigerians not to be intimidated into silence but to continue to advocate for justice and accountability.

In the words of Obi; “Nigeria should be a country where citizens can voice their frustrations without fear and where leaders take immediate action to address pressing issues”.

The former governor of Anambra State said that listening to citizens’ concerns was essential for national development, especially in key sectors like education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.