Benue: Suspension of Fr. Alia From Mass: A Normal Church Practice – Campaign Organisation

One of the frontline gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has declared that the suspension order pronounced on him by the Bishop of Gboko Catholic Diocese, William Avenya, is a normal practice of the church.

Alia, in a statement by Kula Tersoo, Head of Media and Publicity of his 2023 Gubernatorial Organization, said that with the development, he is implicitly officially freed to go on fully with his strides to rescue Benue from total collapse.

The governorship aspirant told members, stakeholders and leaders of the APC family in Benue state that he was only suspended from celebrating public Eucharistic Masses, but he remains a priest of the Catholic Church forever.

Alia said that after his tenure ends in public civil service, he shall resume his public Masses and ministry.

He noted that Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu of blessed memory who served as the second Executive Governor of Benue state went through the same process, adding that his footprints are visible for all to see.

He further said; “From the day I took the decision to answer the overwhelming calls of my people to contest the Governorship of Benue with the aim to rescue our people from the shackles of maladministration, I was fully aware of the sacrifice I was going to make.

“And am convinced that it is worth the cause I am fighting to serve the souls of Benue people and the State. I have a freer leverage to give more time to achieving this pursuit.

“I remain resolute and please don’t be anxious either because I am well prepared and focused. More importantly, I am more charged because I have seen the genuineness in the agitations for me to step in and help salvage the already sorry situation the state has found itself for sometimes.

“As stated in the last paragraph of the suspension letter, I shall return to the public pulpit after I must have served out my mandate as the Governor of Benue state,” he said.

Alia called on his teeming supporters, fans and admirers to remain steadfast, continue to pray and work in order to actualize the Alialization 2023 project.