The Benue State chapter of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, has vehemently rejected calls by some of their colleagues for the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
Archbishop Alexander Nyoonkyegh, who is the State Overseer of the Conference, declared on Saturday in Makurdi that the State does not need emergency rule, but a united front to confront the common enemy.
He pointedly said that what the state needed at this crucial point in time was unity and support for Governor Hyacinth Alia, who is their brother in the vineyard that deserved to be protected by true men of God.
In the words of Nyoonkyegh; “As fathers of faith, when you have a son and brother in the vineyard and they are doing well, you say, brother, keep it up.
“What we need now in Benue is unity and support for the governor to succeed. Let us help him to succeed because he is heading in the right direction.
“We cannot continue to talk about military takeover or emergency rule in Benue. Look at what happened in Rivers. A sole administrator was appointed for Rivers who is from another state,” he said.
The Archbishop further said that even the Bible admonished them to be submissive to authorities, stressing that only God gives authority to people.
According to him; “Recently we were here crying on the issue of insecurity, and there were reasons to support our cries.
“Fr Alia is our brother in the vineyard, and we will continue to pray for him to succeed. What we know is that there is no authority that is not given from God. And the Bible says we must be submissive to the authorities.
“Yes, we are prophets, but we are submissive to the authorities here on earth too. What we need here is development, and the governor is developing the state. So, what else can we ask for?
“Apart from issues of insecurity, which the governor is working so hard to address, and we are seeing some of his efforts, what fundamental offence has he committed?” he asked.
Nyoonkyegh commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for standing with Benue people and has directed the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, to relocate to the state to address the growing insecurity.
He said; “We cried with faith in God, and He is hearing our prayers. We believe that this mystery that we have witnessed in the last few days since the arrival of the Chief of Army shall continue.
“Since the arrival of the Chief of Army Staff, we have not heard of any further attack on our people. Let the peace be maintained,” he said.
