Enugu guber: CUPP tasks police to prosecute arrested armed thugs

AAC guber candidate vows to raise minimum wage to N50, 000

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has asked the police to prosecute suspects arrested in parts of Enugu State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

CUPP’s call followed revelation by Labour Party governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, that some armed thugs, brought in to disrupt the poll, were nabbed by a combined team of security operatives.

Speaking at a press briefing, yesterday, Chairman of CUPP in the state, Festus Okafor, said the matter must not be swept under the carpet.

Okafor, who commended security agencies for bursting the ring, said more still needed to be done.

CUPP said: “May we commend security agencies for recent arrest of thugs in different locations across the state.

“This goes to vindicate our outcry for the past two weeks that the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) was importing terror into the state. Our appeal to security agencies is that they should not bow to pressure.

“These political hoodlums must be prosecuted. Nobody, no matter how highly placed, should influence law enforcement agencies into releasing these suspects back to the streets ahead of the elections.

“We are also aware that many of them are yet to be arrested. They are still hiding in some locations provided for them by desperate politicians. Efforts must be made to secure the voting process in the state.”

The group urged Enugu people “not to yield to terror, but come out en-masse on Saturday and vote for candidates of their choice.”

“It takes men of courage to dethrone impunity. Enugu people must rise up and take their destiny in their hands; this is not time for any assumed godfather to decide the fate of millions of Enugu people. Rise up and be counted; that is our message to the people.

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Ray Ogbodo, has promised to raise the minimum wage of workers in Enugu State, employ N50, 000 people if elected in Saturday’s governorship election.

Ogbodo said his administration would embark on upward review of salaries to reduce the current hardship workers are facing in the state.

The AAC governorship candidate, who spoke to journalists during his street to street campaign in Enugu, yesterday, said his five-point agenda include: free healthcare, free education, security, more prosperity and many opportunities.

According to him, he would spread the wealth of the state to create employment opportunities and reduce youth involvement in social vices.