Opinion
Enough Of Cultism
In spite of all attempts
made by the government both at the federal and state levels to end cultism in our society and higher institutions, it has continued unabated.
I don’t need to state the danger cultism poses to our institutions and the society at large as it has maimed its victims and killed many. But one thing that shocks me is the reason those who belong to cult groups adduce for their membership.
Such reasons are so feeble that they fall short of all logic. How can one tell me that he or she belongs to a secret cult for protection and in order to belong?
Cultism is a very bad thing for anyone to belong. Many who are there attribute their membership to bad company. What this means is that evil friends influenced them and encouraged them to become cult members. Many have fallen victim to cultism. Parents have lost their children to this menace while others have lost their beloved ones.
I have not seen anyone who says he or she is happy joining a cult group. This is because many of them were forced into it. Again, some of them have seen the danger inherent in it. Cultists are known to be hard-hearted and never show mercy to their victims. It is because of this lack of compassion for their victims some Nigerians are advocating long prison term or even death penalty for cultists.
Higher institutions have ended up expelling these dreaded things. Let everyone of us fight this ill because cultism is as bad and dangerous as illicit drugs. It gives its members bad reputation. So whatever sanction that should be given to drug peddlers must apply to them.
The area of concern to me which I consider a dangerous trend is that many young people in our country involved in dangerous crime like armed robbery etc are usually induced by drugs or cultism. Most of them belong to one cult group or the other. Even our leaders are not free from this menace.
It has been proven that some of our politicians are cultists. And many are being initiated as a condition to be connected or given ticket for one position or the other in our political space.
Now, imagine a situation where our leaders are involved in this dreaded act. What will be the consequences for the younger ones? I have to ask that we all must come together to end cultism in the society. When I say we all, I mean everyone like labour unions, the media, NGOs etc. This is a collective responsibility.
But one thing is to highlight a problem and proffer solution to it. Another thing is for the authorities to practicalise such solutions. If we are serious about eliminating cultism from our higher institutions and society at large, the way to start is to make non membership of secret cult a condition for admission into any institution particularly higher institutions. The same principle should apply to those who seek to vie for one political position or the other. Non-membership of cult group has to be a criterion as well.
Above all else, everything should be done to protect our young ones from the evil of cultism. This call is important particularly when we consider that these same cultists eventually graduate into militants and progress into other dangerous exploits. We shall continue to experience an endless circle of violence if we neglect these young ones and let them take membership of cult groups.
The in-coming administration has so much work to do in this regard. It must establish a framework to deal with this problem. Cultism must be eliminated from our higher institutions for academic activities to thrive. Society has to be involved in this fight so that together we shall get rid of this evil.
Amadi wrote from Port Harcourt
Daisy Amadi
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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