Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has called on Nigerians to support Raye, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Lagos State, who alleges she is facing threats from the NYSC board after a viral TikTok video in which she criticized President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The young woman, known online as @talktoraye, took to social media to express her frustration over the escalating cost of living in Nigeria. In her emotional video, she described Tinubu as a “terrible” president and accused the government of failing to address economic hardships faced by citizens.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), defended Raye, declaring her a hero for speaking out. “This young lady, Raye, whose TikTok name is @talktoraye, is a hero of this moment in our national life; in fact, she is doing real national service in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC),” he said.
He condemned the alleged threats against her, asserting, “We must do everything to support her against the despicable, illegitimate, and undemocratically ruthless Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu regime. We won’t spare anything to protect her.”
Using the hashtag #IStandWithRaye, Sowore called out NYSC officials for allegedly attempting to silence the corps member, stating, “This youth corps member, Raye, is from Cross River. She made these videos to speak up about the economic hardship facing Nigerians, and NYSC officials are now trying to shut her down.”
In a post on his X account, Sowore further stated, “Saying that @officialabat is a terrible person/president is not an insult; it is a statement of fact. @officialnyscng has outlived its usefulness, if it was ever helpful at all, considering its deceptive origin and outright corrupt nature.”
In her initial video, Raye expressed concerns over the continuous rise in the cost of basic goods. She lamented, “So, I am coming from a supermarket where I went to get foodstuff, and everything has gone up again. Prices increase every week. What is the government doing about this? Will prices ever stop rising?”
She highlighted the skyrocketing costs of essential commodities, stating, “Why am I going to get a crate of eggs and I’m told it costs N6,500? It doesn’t make sense. I remember when eggs cost N800.”
Raye also detailed her financial struggles as an NYSC member, explaining that her monthly allowance barely covers basic expenses. “The crazy thing is, you want to go out with your friend, and Uber is N25,000. Why are things so expensive? Lagos stinks, everywhere smells. What is the government doing about this?”
Her comments quickly gained traction online, leading to alleged threats from NYSC officials. Less than 24 hours after posting her video, Raye claimed she received calls from NYSC representatives urging her to delete the video. She shared an audio recording of one such conversation, in which an official reportedly asked, “Are you normal?” and instructed her to “pull down that rubbish.”
Raye expressed concern over the safety of corps members, stating, “It is so bad that you can’t even speak up about the government because they feel like they have chains to hold you. They know my address, and now they’ve begun threatening me.”
She reiterated that her remarks were not insults but reflections of reality. “I never insulted the president. I said he is terrible. That is not an insult, it is a statement.”
The situation has sparked widespread debate, with many questioning whether corps members should be restricted from voicing their opinions on national issues. Some argue that freedom of speech must be upheld, while others believe there should be boundaries for serving corps members.
As discussions continue, Sowore and other activists have vowed to stand by Raye, insisting that she must not be victimized for expressing her views. The case underscores growing concerns about free speech and the ability of Nigerians to critique their government without fear of repercussions.
