Church Suspends Priest Aspiring For Benue Governorship, Give Reasons | DETAILS
A Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, has been suspended by the Diocese of Gboko in Benue State for aspiring to contest the 2023 governorship race in the state.
The priest had purchased the All Progressives Congress (APC) N50million nomination and expression of interest forms and had been screened and cleared alongside other 11 successful aspirants at the party’s primary.
According to a letter signed by the Catholic Bishop of Gboko Diocese, William Avenya, the priest had been warned against his political ambition but he remained adamant.
The letter which dated May 20, 2022 explained that Father Alia’s political ambition is against the vocation of the catholic church.
However, he stands a chance to be recalled if he withdraws from the political race according to the letter.
The letter read in part;
“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.
“The Mother Church does not allow her clerics to get involved in partisan politics on their own
“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 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.”
