‘My comment was twisted’ — Tinubu’s aide denies seeking death penalty for corps member

Temitope Ajayi, a senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on media and publicity, has defended his comments on the controversy surrounding the National Youth Corps Service (NYSC) member who criticised his principal.

Ushie Uguamaye aka Raye, an NYSC member serving in Lagos, made headlines on Saturday when she posted a video condemning government policies.

The viral video shows her calling Tinubu a “terrible leader” and questioning the government’s commitment to tackling the biting economy.

Raye’s outburst led to a flurry of reactions in which many social media users sided with her while others knocked her for attacking the federal government which oversees the NYSC.

Ajayi was one of those who berated her for comments.

In a Facebook post, the presidential aide said Raye’s position as a corps member did not provide her the opportunity to criticise Tinubu.

“The issue is not about exercise of free speech or what she said. If she is not a corper she can say whatever she fancies like people do per seconds,” Ajayi wrote.

“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.

“You can’t abuse the country you are serving as a corper under any guise and the symbol of sovereign authority which is the President. She should be punished to the full extent not just warning. She chose to be silly, then she should face the consequences.”

Ajayi’s comments set loose another wave of criticism with many social media users accusing the president’s aide of suggesting a death penalty for the lady following his suggestion of a “capital punishment”.

However, in a statement issued on Monday, Ajayi dismissed the outburst, saying his comments were “twisted”.

“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,” he clarified.

“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.”

Ajayi urged citizens to abide by dignity, discipline, and respect for one another.