New details have surfaced regarding the heartbreaking story of the father of Ushie Rita Uguamaye, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member who recently went viral for her strong criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Journalist and human rights activist, Agba Jalingo, has provided insights into the tragic events surrounding the death of Uguamaye’s father, who was an immigration officer. He revealed that the deceased lost his life while actively protesting the government’s demolition of farmlands for the construction of the Obudu International Airport project in Cross River State.
Jalingo, who is from the same hometown as Uguamaye in Obudu, shared that in May 2019, the NYSC member’s father had invested all his life savings into developing a palm plantation in his village, Ukambi. His dream was to have a thriving agricultural business after retirement.
Unfortunately, his dreams were shattered when news broke that farmlands in neighboring communities had already been demolished to make way for the airport project. Fearing that his land would be next, he rushed back to his hometown to confront the situation.
According to Jalingo, Uguamaye’s father, dressed in his official immigration uniform, bravely positioned himself in front of the bulldozers in an attempt to halt the demolition. He was soon joined by other members of the community who were also angered by the destruction of their lands.
However, amidst the tension, tragedy struck. The immigration officer reportedly collapsed at the protest scene. Witnesses and family members quickly rushed him to a hospital in Obudu for urgent medical attention. Due to the severity of his condition, he was later transferred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where he sadly passed away.
Despite the devastating loss suffered by his family, Jalingo emphasized that the government never provided any form of compensation for the destruction of his farmland or his tragic death. The family was left to bear the pain and financial burden on their own.
Uguamaye, who was just 19 years old at the time of her father’s death, grew up witnessing the struggles of her family following his passing. Jalingo noted that her personal experiences with governmental injustices, coupled with economic hardships, could have played a major role in shaping her recent outburst on TikTok, where she emotionally criticized Tinubu’s leadership.
Jalingo’s Statement read in part:[/b]
“She’s from my hometown, Obudu, in Cross River state. Her father, an immigration officer, died in May 2019 after taking part in a protest against the demolition of his palm plantation for the Obudu International Airport.
“There was a demonstration by the youths and women of the Ukambi community against the destruction of their farmlands for the airport project.”
“Her father, who was nearing retirement, had spent his lifetime savings developing a palm plantation in his village, Ukambi. Upon learning that farmlands in neighboring Atiekpe and Ikwomikwu had been demolished and that Ukambi was next, he rushed home to confront the bulldozer encroaching on his land.”
“He arrived at the site in his uniform and stood in front of the bulldozer, attempting to stop it before other community members joined him.
“He actively participated in the protest but later collapsed. He was rushed to a hospital in Obudu, but due to the severity of his condition, he was transferred to UCTH in Calabar, where he died.”
Many Nigerians have since reacted to this revelation, with some expressing sympathy for Uguamaye and understanding the pain behind her viral remarks. Others have called for the government to provide justice and compensation for families affected by such demolitions.
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