The embattled corper Ushie Rita Uguamaye that described the President of Nigeria ‘Terrible’lost her father in 2019 in a pitiable circumstance
Report had it how Rita was devastated by her father’s death , the memory of which that never left her till her present national assignment
Her father Chief Inspector Raphael A Ushie of the Nigeria Immigration Service was on May 2019 tragically passed away after protesting the demolition of his palm plantation in Ukambi, Cross River State.
The land was cleared to make way for the Obudu International Airport, a project that led to the destruction of numerous local farmlands.
Ushie, nearing retirement had invested his life savings into developing the plantation. Upon learning that neighboring communities’ farmlands had been demolished and that Ukambi was next, he rushed home to confront the encroaching bulldozers.
In his uniform, he stood in front of the machinery attempting to halt the demolition before other community members joined the protest.
During the demonstration, Ushie collapsed and was initially taken to a hospital in Obudu. Due to the severity of his condition, he was transferred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where he later died.
Despite the family’s loss, no compensation was provided for the destroyed plantation or related expenses.
Ushie’s widow was left to single-handedly support their children through school. To this day, there has been no restitution for the family’s loss.
Fast forward to March 2025, Ushie’s daughter, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, now 24, is serving as a National Youth Service Corps member in Lagos State.
Recently, she gained attention for a viral TikTok video criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s administration over escalating living costs.
In her emotional post, she described Tinubu as a “terrible president” and lamented the financial struggles faced by citizens including the inadequacy of the NYSC allowance to cover basic living expenses.
Following her critique, the NYSC summoned Rita for questioning citing violations of corps members’ conduct rules which prohibit openly criticizing authorities.
This action has sparked national debate on free speech and the rights of citizens to express grievances.
Figures like Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate have publicly criticized the government’s response arguing that silencing dissent undermines Nigeria’s democratic values.
Rita’s outcry reflects broader frustrations among Nigerians facing economic hardships and feeling marginalized by systemic inefficiencies.
Her family’s ordeal, from the loss of their patriarch protesting land demolition to her current challenges shows ongoing tensions between citizens and authorities over land rights, freedom of expression and economic policies
The situation continues to evolve, highlighting the need for dialogue between the government and its citizens to address grievances and uphold democratic principles.
Additional details from Sahara Reporters
