BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Benue State for the 2023 general elections, Rev Fr Hyacenth Iormem Alia, has called on his supporters and Nigerians at large to desist from speaking ill of the Catholic Church authority for suspending him over his political ambition.
Alia had been suspended by the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Benue State, Most Rev William Avenya for joining partisan politics.
In a letter dated May 20, 2022, and addressed to priests and members of the congregation, the Bishop said the canon law of the Catholic Church forbids its clerics from being involved in partisan politics.
Avenya had said Alia has been barred from public ministry until “he ceases from contumacy”, adding that the priest had been admonished severally before the action was taken.
In the governorship primary election of the APC in the state recently, the party had opted for a direct primary and Alia polled 7,000 votes to clinch the party ticket.
Alia, in a message he circulated to his supporters and congratulation on Sunday, revealed that he was aware that he would be suspended before he ventured into partisan politics adding that he wanted to salvage Benue, his state of origin.
The cleric who had been temporarily suspended from his priestly duties said he would return to his bishop after he had finished serving as Governor of the state.
“No one should speak ill of the Church authority for suspending me. I knew it would be so before I decided to buy the form. I love the priesthood and that is my main constituency. I had to answer this call for the salvation of my state. When I am done with this mission, I will go back to my Bishop for doing the right thing by sending me this letter. He is defending the Church. The Church cannot be involved in politics.”
