Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed support for a Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps member, Ushie Uguamaye, also known as Raye, who claimed to have received threats after her viral video criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement shared on X on Sunday, Atiku praised Raye’s courage, describing her as a symbol of a new generation of politically engaged women committed to advocacy and democratic participation.
“Raye embodies the spirit of a new generation of women who champion the ideals of popular participation and unwavering advocacy in the political sphere.
“I deeply admire her boldness and wisdom—her fearless resolve to speak truth to power, undeterred by the weight of opposition,” Atiku wrote.
The former presidential candidate likened Raye to historic female activists such as Gambo Sawaba, Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti, and Margaret Ekpo, who played pivotal roles in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Atiku called for support rather than hostility towards Raye.
“Rather than being met with hostility, Raye deserves encouragement and support. 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,” Atiku said.
Raye, a corps member serving in Lagos, recently made headlines after a video she posted criticising government policies went viral.
She later claimed to have faced threats, reportedly from NYSC officials, pressuring her to take down the video.
Meanwhile, the incident has reignited debates about freedom of speech and the boundaries placed on government employees. While some Nigerians supported her right to speak out, others warned that such actions could jeopardize her career and future prospects.
Some Nigerians have cautioned her about the risks of openly criticizing the government as a federal staff member. They emphasized that civil servants, including NYSC members, are expected to adhere to strict codes of conduct that often limit public expressions of dissent.
As much as I relate with everything she said as a young person and strongly believe this administration is the worst thing that happened to this country.
However, she is fighting a lost cause. The NYSC bye laws clearly state that you can not criticize the government openly. https://t.co/pxwEW3WIBP
— Azeez Lawal
(@lawalazeez) March 15, 2025
“You can’t openly criticize the government if you’re an FG staff,” PhD candidate and other concerned Nigerians counsel NYSC member over her viral pic.twitter.com/rcL1P80Apw
— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) March 16, 2025
NYSC laws are crazyyyy and the worst part is, you can’t criticize the government as a corp member. I was blacklisted in 2018 for tweeting about my experience with camp doctors that didn’t know what Lupus was and called me a liar even with my medical report and medications
— Misty The SuperMegazillionaire (@MistuRants) March 15, 2025
They’re right tho, as a corp member you’re automatically an FG staff and you’re expected to respect your employer. But then what she said and how she said it was respectful, she wasn’t disrespectful in any way.
— O R A R O
(@Slim_Oraro) March 16, 2025
The only wrong in that NYSC lady’s video is the fact that she is currently a staff of the government and i remember reading that as a staff of the government, you can’t criticize the government. That aside, Nigeria is currently in a very terrible state and everything expensive
— Felix Onyemaechi
(@Felix_Onyemaech) March 16, 2025
Shey you no read NYSC handbook ni , or you no stay for camp . If you actually waited till you were done if call Tinubu mumu nobody will care . Police and Military can’t criticize the government same goes for coppers for their 1 year program https://t.co/tOo22WpNNC
— Otunba Kole (@AYOMITIDE112) March 15, 2025
Emotions and the law aren’t the same. The best lawyers would win. What we need to do is revisit the law and also understand why the law was placed. We can proceed to update it accordingly if need be. A person serving a government cannot openly criticize the government during… https://t.co/ujXVwEtZ0V
— The Magician (@lumi_sho) March 16, 2025
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