Sowore to Lead Protest Over NYSC’s Withholding of Corps Member’s Discharge Certificate
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

Human rights activist and 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has announced plans to lead a protest on Tuesday against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for allegedly withholding the discharge certificate of Rita Uguamaye, a corps member and popular content creator known as Raye.

The dispute stems from a video Uguamaye posted in March, in which she criticised federal government policies and described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “terrible leader.” She also complained about Lagos’ “poor living conditions” and called the NYSC scheme “not beneficial.” The comments triggered widespread reactions, prompting Uguamaye to later apologise, insisting her remarks about Lagos were misunderstood.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, Sowore urged Nigerians to join the planned protest in solidarity with Uguamaye.

“I want to use this opportunity to invite people to another protest tomorrow on behalf of the youth corps lady who was denied her discharge certificate,” Sowore said. “She is the only one who spoke up against the president who denied her certificate. We have a clear nexus between what she said and her punishment.”

Addressing allegations that Uguamaye failed to complete her mandatory one-month clearance, Sowore claimed she had evidence proving she attempted to fulfil the requirement but was deliberately prevented.

“For the people who said she didn’t do one-month clearance, she has been able to make a case that she went there to do the clearance, but they refused,” he added.

The protest is expected to draw attention to what Sowore describes as a growing trend of punishing dissenting voices in Nigeria.

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