Former Minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu, has condemned the backlash against Nigerians expressing dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Shittu’s remarks come amid the alleged threats by National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) officials against a Lagos-based corps member, Ushie Uguamaye (also known as Raye), who posted a viral video criticizing the government.
While many Nigerians have expressed solidarity with the corps member, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, argued that she deserved the highest form of disciplinary action—expulsion from the NYSC.
Speaking as a guest at Eagle 102.5 FM’s 3rd Ramadan Lecture in Ilese-Ijebu on Tuesday, Shittu emphasized that freedom of speech and public opinion are fundamental to democracy.
“In a country of over 230 million people, differing opinions are inevitable,” he said.
He acknowledged that some Nigerians may feel frustrated with government policies, but insisted that such sentiments do not represent the views of the entire population. According to him, expecting uniformity of thought is unrealistic.
Reacting to Ajayi’s call for severe punishment, Shittu argued that criticism of government is not a capital offense and that democracy permits free speech within legal limits.
“These statements are often media-driven and should not be grounds for extreme punitive measures,” he stated.
*Ramadan School Closures Unnecessary – Shittu*
The former minister also weighed in on the decision by four northern states—Katsina, Kebbi, Bauchi, and Kano—to shut down schools for Ramadan.
Shittu clarified that Islam does not mandate school closures during the holy month, citing the Quran, which instructs businesses to pause only for Jum’ah prayer and resume afterward.
“Closing schools for Ramadan lacks religious justification and is unnecessary,” he argued.
He questioned the effectiveness of such closures, noting that many students may not spend their time praying as intended. If any adjustment were to be considered, he suggested it should only apply to the last ten days of Ramadan, when some teachers and students might observe I’tikaf (seclusion for worship).
However, shutting down schools for an entire month, he maintained, is irrelevant and unjustified.
