By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
A bill for a law to provide for the prohibition of secret cult and similar activities and related matters has passed second reading in the Anambra State House of Assembly. The bill scaled through second reading during plenary.
The bill sponsored by the Majority Leader and member representing Ekwusigo Constituency, Sir Ikenna Ofodeme, seeks to prohibit all forms of cultism in Anambra State.
Leading the debate, Sir Ikenna stated that the fight against cultism involved all, especially the Church, parents and institutions, disclosing that the menace had gone beyond activities in schools and had spread down to villages and streets.
He noted that it was a lifesaving bill because cultism had triggered the taking of illicit drugs which enabled cultists to carry out most of the killings they did, disclosing that if the bill was passed into law, anyone who committed the offence, whether through conspiracy, sponsoring or supporting cult activities, would face the consequences.
Sir Ikenna said the State House of Assembly was committed to making Anambra State a livable and prosperous homeland, which, he said, was the mission and vision of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Supporting the bill, the Chief Whip and member representing Ihiala Constituency One, Barrister Jude Ngobili; and his Idemili North counterpart, Honourable Kingsley Udemezie, in their different submissions, highlighted the damages and menace of cultism in society and called for speedy passage of the bill.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Right Honourable Somtochukwu Udeze, referred the bill to a joint Committee on Education, chaired by Honourable Anayo Okpalaeke, and Committee on Judiciary and Justice, chaired by Barrister Patrick Okafor.
The Speaker urged the joint committees to report back to the house in three weeks.
