Former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi has taken to social media to lament how he has been exposed to imminent danger for daring to “offer constructive suggestions and comments” on the current state of the nation. In a show of solidarity for Rita, a corp member allegedly threatened by the government for speaking against the present administration, Peter Obi expressed that such actions are antithetical to the principles of democracy.
Recently, Rita Ushie Uguamaye who is a serving corps member in Lagos state has trended online following a video made by her on Tiktok where she decried the deteriorating economic conditions in Nigeria. Rita who later claimed she has been receiving threats from NYSC officials over her viral Tiktok video has gained the support of prominent Nigerian politicians and activists including former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and Omoyele Sowore.
Peter Obi who was the flag-bearer of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections said like Rita, he has also been subjected to daily intimidation, name-calling, harassment and threats for giving “solution-based views on government policies”. In his note to the government, Peter Obi tasked the Tinubu administration to embrace dialogue and engagement other than the “troubling trend of subjecting voices of reason and truth to intimidation.
“A government that silences its citizens is not democratic or one that is subject to accountability and good governance and is most often corrupt. I urge the current administration to reflect deeply on its approach to dissent and recognize that constructive criticism is a cornerstone of democratic progress. A just and prosperous Nigeria should be one where people like Raye are encouraged to speak out about the challenges they face, while those in government take urgent action to address these issues.”
