A human rights advocate has commended governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, for sending names of lecturers in Rivers State University to Department of State Services (DSS) for scrutiny over possible involvement in cultism.
Barrister Higher King, human rights advocate in Port-Harcourt who made the commendation in a telephone interview, however appealed to Governor Wike to also send names of those in political class to DSS for scrutiny, describing the move by the governor as a “good one”.
The human rights advocate said society does not need “cult men” as politicians or lecturers, saying “as a lecturer, you shouldn’t be a member of cult. How will I support you to be a member of cult?”.
He also said any student who is a member of cult group should be “expelled” from any institution of higher learning.
He alleged that cult members occupy political offices at both state and national levels and appealed to Governor Wike to send names of political appointees in Rivers State to Department of State Services for profiling.
Barrister King said Governor Wike could send names of lecturers of Rivers State University to DSS for profiling adding that anybody could submit name of anyone to security agencies for security check.
The human rights advocate appealed to Governor Wike to muster needed political will to carry out action of profiling lecturers.
It will be recalled that Wike recently announced he had sent names of all lecturers of Rivers State University to DSS for profiling.
The action followed the sack by the governor of the Vice-Chancelor of Rivers State University, Prof. Blessing Didia, after two students of the university were killed in suspected cult-related attacks.
Governor Wike while playing host to leaders of Choba Community in Government House, Port-Harcourt said: “At the Rivers State University, we have sent out names of all the lecturers to the DSS for profiling. Any lecturer who is linked to cultism will be sacked. As a lecturer, you should not use your position to create crisis in the university”.
He had assured that his administration would provide logistics support to security agencies to fight kidnapping and cultism in Rivers State saying “we are going after all cultists and kidnappers in the state. We will not spare anyone”.
He also said the state anti-cultism law would be amended to include power to demolish any building belonging to anyone accused of cultism.
Wike’s action sending names of lecturers of Rivers State University to DSS for profiling drew reactions.
