By Ovat Abeng
The youth wing of Anambra State Town Union Council (ASTUC), on Saturday, held solidarity rally in support of continuation of Agunaechemba and Udo Ga-Achi operatives established by the present administration of governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to curb crime in the state.
They urged politicians not to politicise insecurity in the State.
This came on the heels of a similar protest held Friday by some youths led by the governorship candidate of Young Progressive Party (YPP), Sir Paul Chukwuma who had called for disbandment of Agunaechemba and Special Anambra Anti-touting Squad (SASA) due to unprofessional conduct of some of their members.
But youths from 179 communities in Anambra, in a counter peaceful protest round some streets of Awka to the new government house with placards of different inscriptions, sang in solidarity with Agunaechemba and governor Chukwuma Soludo’s reelection.
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The ASTUC youth President, Hon. Ken Okoli, who led the peaceful protest, however, condemned the 8 members of Agunaechemba spotted in a viral video assaulting a member of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Ms Jennifer Elohor and urged the government to prosecute them accordingly.
Okoli, while commending the state government for sacking the culprits and handing them over to the police for prosecution, assured that the youth across the 179 communities would continue to monitor and checkmate activities of the state security operatives to ensure they play according to the rule.
According to him, Anambra youths would not support any move to disband the operatives as it could jeopardise the state security as well as empower some politicians from the opposition to scuttle or rig the November 8 governorship poll in the name of insecurity.
“We are here to show solidarity to the State government from the community level. We are working with the various institutions across the State to make Anambra State liveable to all. Anambra is our ours and we are serving Anambra State.
“We can’t allow Agunaechemba and Udo Ga-Achi to be disbanded by the mistakes of some members. Anambra State Homeland Security law has empowered them to provide solutions to security challenges. We are in support that those who erred among them should be prosecuted.
“We are in support of governor Chukwuma Soludo’s reelection. We are supporting the leadership of Agunaechemba to continue. They will remain as parts of security providing solutions to Anambra state. We do not want a return to an era where people will run away from Anambra,” he added.
Receiving the protesters, the State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, represented by the Chief of Staff, Sir Ernest Ezeajughi, thanked the youth for having faith and believe in the State government, which according to him, would continue to reposition the State.
Soludo, who said his administration had performed well in all indices, urged the stakeholders and politicians to rather support him in tackling insecurities, as well as tell the State their economic policies if elected.
“The governor is doing very well especially in security. We have transformed various sectors. All the stakeholders need to join hands in tackling insecurities. Everyone must come together and support him. Kindly mobilise other youth across the 21 Local Government Areas and 326 wards to support the government efforts. We must resist every attempt by politicians to politicise security,” he noted.
