Abuja — Governor Chibuike Amaechi has warned that any landlord, who provides accommodation to secret cult members, will be prosecuted.

Amaechi issued the warning in Port Harcourt on Monday at a thanksgiving service, organised in his honour at Corpus Christi Cathedral.

He said any landlord, who failed to report a cult member under the state Cultism Law, was liable to five years imprisonment on conviction.

The governor observed that the public seemed to be unaware of the provisions of this law passed by the State House of Assembly when he was the speaker.

He wondered why security men often failed to apprehend law breakers.

"I will implement the law which says that if a secret cult member lives in your house, and you don't report him to the police, if you are found guilty, you will go for five years imprisonment," Amaechi stressed.

Amaechi appealed to those terrorising the Riverine areas of the state to allow peace to reign, pointing out that their actions were no longer part of the Niger Delta struggle, but criminal.

He noted that the challenges facing his administration were constant flooding, as well as the lack of potable water in Port Harcourt, and promised to provide a more permanent drainage system in the city.

"In the course of finding solution to the flood and drainage problems in Port Harcourt, houses will go down and for the ones that are illegal, I will not pay compensation," he said.

He expressed sympathy with those who lost their houses in Rainbow town but explained that the houses were demolished to pave way for new and modern structures.

He said the government would soon constitute a committee to implement the law on the handing over of schools to the Missions and urged the Church to nominate three persons to be included in the committee.

Amaechi said he had forgiven those, who persecuted him during his governorship struggle and appealed to those he offended to also forgive him.

The chairman of the occasion, Justice Peter Agumagu, urged Amaechi to put the past behind him and face what God wanted him to do for the people.

Agumagu noted that the governor was embarking on a sacred duty, which required faithfulness, focus and direction from God.

The Catholic Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese, the Most Rev Alexius Makozi, said Christians should not be more interested in the acquisition of wealth but offer themselves to the service of God.

Makozi noted that God had placed Amaechi in authority to deliver the people from impoverishment.

In an address, the Vicar-General, Rev Fr Cyprian Onwuli, advised Amaechi to rule the state with the fear of God.

Onwuli said the Church was grateful to the governor for the role he played in passing the law for the hand-over of schools.

(NAN)