2023: Catholic Church Suspends Priest Over Interest In Becoming Next Benue Governor

The Catholic Bishop of Gboko Diocese in Benue state, Most Rev. William Avenya on Saturday evening announced the suspension of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia from priesthood over involvement in partisan politics.

Avenya in a letter dated 21/5/2022, disclosed that the suspension takes immediate effect.

“The Mother Church does not allow her clerics to get involved in partisan politics. Fr. Alia has gone contrary and is hereby suspended with immediate effect until the day he ceases from contumacy,” the statement reads in part.

Naija News reports that Rev. Fr. Alia is seeking to be the next Governor of Benue State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and is favoured by the zoning arrangement of Benue politics.

Findings by our correspondent reviewed that Fr. Alia is favoured to win the APC governorship ticket going by his recent cordiality with the state party leader, Senator George Akume and the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Findings also revealed that the Rev. Father is seen as a good option for the All progressives Congress to wrestle power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State.

The letter of suspension reads:

“I write to communicate to you the suspension of my priest, Revd. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, from public ministry after series of admonitions to him Ex can. 1371, 2° CIC,” the statement reads.

“The Mother Church does not allow her clerics to get involved in partisan politics on their own Ex Can. 285, 3 CIC.

“You are aware that my son, your brother and your priest, has purchased the party forms to
contest for the Office of the Governor of Benue State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is totally against our vocation.

“Therefore, to respond to the spiritual and pastoral needs of the Church in the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, I have suspended him from the exercise of sacred ministry.

“This canonical suspension takes effect from the moment it is communicated to him and lasts until he ceases from contumacy.”