ENUGU- Mr Frank Nweke Jr, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Governorship candidate in Enugu State, has described as ‘preposterous’ stripping of a widow in Agunese Affam-Mmaku Community in Awgu Local Government of Enugu state naked and parading her round the community unclad for allegedly picking snails from a sacred grove.
Mr. Nweke’s stance was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by his Okeifufe Campaign Organization on Wednesday.
The APGA governorship-hopeful who described the incident as outright abuse and criminal, maintained that every person involved in the incident should be brought to the book, vowing that violence against women will not be tolerated in his administration if elected governor of the state.
He maintained that women were critical to nation-building and must be given the pride of place in our social, economic and political reality.
Nweke, a onetime Information Minister, said, “we must intentionally protect our women’s rights, pursue inclusive representation and increase women’s participation in leadership at all tiers as equal partners in development.
The statement in full:
“My attention has been drawn to an incident that occurred on Friday, October 29th at Agunese Affam-Mmaku Community in Awgu LGA, Enugu State.
A woman, a mother was stripped of her clothes and dignity, beaten and completely humiliated on the accusation of picking snails from a sacred grove. This is preposterous and I fully condemn this wicked act.
It is outright abuse and criminal, and every person involved must be brought to the book.
Under my government, the violence against our women, mothers and daughters, regardless of who they are, will not be tolerated or treated lightly.
Women are critical to nation-building and must be given the pride of place in our social, economic and political reality. We must intentionally protect our women’s rights, pursue inclusive representation and increase women’s participation in leadership at all tiers as equal partners in development.
I commend the LG Chairman for taking quick action to have the culprits arrested and salute the women’s groups that immediately condemned this act and commit to working with them to ensure that justice is done. My government will work to ensure that women are given full access to effectively play a role in the development of our society.
