This may not be the best of time in Nigeria, owing to issues arising from different segments of the society, economically, socially and politically. The viral video posted on the social media by Miss Ushie Uguamaye, a Youth Corper, lamenting about the high cost of living in the country, and the latest suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, and Ngozi Odu, his deputy from office by the President and Commander in Chief, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are the talk of town.
The developments in the country call for caution, especially the issue concerning the young Nigerian corper who is now in the eyes of the storm, for the fact that she sought for explanation why things are difficult, almost for everyone in the country. The outburst against a harmless corps member by an NYSC official was unnecessary, especially in the face of overwhelming evidence that things are really difficult for Nigerians. The majority of Nigerians are yet to feel the positive impact of this government that rode on a high horse, promising wealth creation for the Nigerian populace.
After the video went viral this past week, the NYSC official had asked the corper over the telephone, to pull down the video clip complaining about the economic hardship and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Let it be made clear that Mr. President is for all Nigerians and should be ready to entertain queries from the citizens when things are going wrong. Speaking in a manner that shows insensitivity, defending an administration when it is clear that people are dying of hunger is nothing but hypocrisy. Among other demands, the NYSC invited Uguamaye to the Secretariat 24 hours after the video was released.
We understand that based on her position as a serving corps member, she is not at liberty to be critical of government policies. But the questions to be asked here are: Did the corper lie that a crate of egg costs six thousand five hundred naira (#6,500), depending on where you are buying it from in Lagos? Are Nigerians enjoying the present condition of living where costs of fuel, transportation, electricity and feeding are on the roof top? Why was the Cyber bullying on the lady so spontaneous as if the NYSC official is the spokesperson of the President? Did the lady truly abuse Mr. President, or use derogatory language to express what people are going through?
Did she actually speak the minds of millions of Nigerians? When did we become an authoritarian state that forbids freedom of expression? The last time we checked, Nigeria is still a democratic nation whereby citizens are at liberty to express their opinions and feelings on matters affecting them. That we have multiple political parties again, gives credence that Nigeria is not a one-party state which the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is trying very hard to portray. The NYSC should not go overboard on this issue, but rather face its primary responsibility of making sure that the welfare and security of corps members under its care are not compromised across the country.
The problem is that things are not working well at the moment, and that Nigerians are suffering. This is an open secret, except those who want to shy away from the truth. Not too long ago, the Catholic Bishops in Nigeria bemoaned the economic hardship staring in the faces of Nigerians. They also warned of impending crisis that might befall the country, owing to increasing hardship in the land, occasioned by political corruption, unemployment and rising insecurity. To put it mildly, since the withdrawal of subsidies on petroleum products, and the floating of the naira, there is no middle-class anymore in Nigeria.
What we have now are the super-rich, who are mostly the politicians, and the super poor, who are the hewers of woods and drawers of waters, where incidentally, the masses belong. Undoubtedly, the young corper is not alone in this mix, rather, the government should look inward for better understanding of what the people are going through. Calling for punitive measure against the young lady who was brave enough to speak truth to power will not solve any problem, rather it would ridicule the country more in the eyes of the global world, since the issue here is about feeding and essential needs of life, the primary responsibility of every government to provide for its citizens.
Let the government begin now to know those who are doing eye service in the corridors of power. The continuous heating of the polity on flimsy excuses to curry favour of those in authority like the case of the Youth Corper, is not what Nigerians want at this time. We appeal that the NYSC and government of the day should not go further on the corper’s issue, but instead listen to the message and not the messenger, because of some interest groups that have come into the picture. Let government and its minders stop actions that would drive the youths away from the country to other parts of the world.
