(Judex Okor, CALABAR)
In a renewed fight to stamp out cultism in Cross River, all political appointees in the state will be compelled to individually swear to an oath, denouncing membership of any secret cult or society.
This is coming barely forty-eight hours after Governor Ben Ayade read a riot act that government will take deliberate step to ensure that anybody in any way or form that is a cultist and is in government will be thrown out.
The State Security Adviser, Mr Jude Ngaji, who disclosed this to DAILY SUN in Calabar yesterday, said it has become imperative to take necessary action to stem rising cult activities in the state.
Ngaji said no responsible government will allow anybody found to belong any secret cult group be part of policy making decisions as it would be counter-productive.
He said, “We have come to a point where all political appointees in the state will be individually compelled to swear to an oath, denouncing membership of any secret cult or society.
“The oath taking is in line with sections 194 and 196 (4) of the 1999 constitution and denunciation of cultism has become a prerequisite for holding public offices in the state. So, we have to start the fight against cultism from within.”
SSA further said the security agencies in the state are collaborating and working assiduously round to ensure that the ugly cult-related events of the past four weeks do not re-occur in the state.
He restated government commitment to prosecute all suspected cultists presently detained by the police, urging members of the public who have information for security agencies to discreetly make it available to forestall further security breaches.