The statement by Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu may not have specified the death penalty for Ushie Rita Uguamaye as he now claims.

Ajayi who was reacting to a viral video by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, said “Citizens can abuse a living day out of their President or any public official. It is normal. But a copper violated her oath and conduct here. That is capital punishment under NYSC.”

The media was quick to pick this up as capital punishment clearly translates to the death penalty for criticising the President and that does not sit well with the public.

Death Penalty for Corp Member

Rita has informed her followers that the NYSC summoned her over her viral video.

A message from the NYSC Local Government Inspector (LGI), directed Rita, to report to the Eti-Osa 3 local government office by 10 a.m. on Monday without fail.

In the video where she calls President Bola Tinubu “terrible”, Rita appears to be sad about the current situation of things in the country.

However, the aide overlooks the point she makes and descends on her with a statement about capital punishment.

“I don’t know if there has ever been a President worse than you, but you are such a terrible leader.”

Ajayi is now revoking what he said which could also imply he did not take a good look at the dictionary before making his statement.

Ajayi wrote, “I made comments under a post where I advertently wrote that what the lady corper did should attract capital punishment under NYSC which means her indiscretion should attract highest punishment under the NYSC scheme.”

Rita like most corpers is living alone for the first time and is struggling. Many have never been away from their families as she noted in her video.

Rita was born to a civil servant who died after protesting the demolition of his palm plantation or so the narrative goes. Her mom has taken responsibility for the family since she was 19 after the loss of her father who was an immigration officer. Sources said that the family never got compensation for the land that was taken for the Obudu airport project.