By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has denied calling for the execution by hanging or firing squad, the National Youth Service Corps member, Ushe ‘Raye’ Uguamaye, who described President Bola Tinubu as a “terrible President.”
Ajayi was said not to be pleased with what Uguamaye noted and called for her head because she was a corps member.
The presidential aide denied calling for capital punishment for the corps member in a statement on Monday: “It has become imperative to dispel the misrepresentation and patent mischief that has trailed my comment on a Facebook post.
“I suggested that flagrant and open abuse and disregard of NYSC by-laws and established protocol should attract the full NYSC disciplinary measures, particularly regarding a corps member’s recent display of imprudence.
“It is trite to say the maximum punishment under the NYSC protocol is expulsion; nothing beyond the established norms and laws is suggested or remotely implied.
“The NYSC scheme is a historic and treasured national programme that should not be sullied and ridiculed by indiscipline. It symbolises our triumph over division and consistent effort to forge a more potent and virile union.
“Most importantly, we should abide by our old cherished values of dignity, discipline, and respect for one another as citizens.”
Ajayi had on his Facebook said, “If she is not a corper, she can say whatever she fancies, like people do per second. Citizens can abuse a living day out of their President or any public official. It is normal. But a corper violated her oath and code of conduct here. That is capital punishment under NYSC.”
He added, “You can’t abuse the country you serve as a corper under any guise and the symbol of sovereign authority, which is the President. She should be punished to the fullest extent, not just warned.”
