Breaking News
2023: Catholic priest suspended for joining governorship race in Benue
The letter partly read, “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 Catholic Diocese of Gboko in Benue State has suspended a priest, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, for joining the governorship race in the state.
Alia had picked up the N50m governorship form of the All Progressives Congress and had been cleared by the ruling party to participate alongside 11 successful aspirants in the party’s primary.
But the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Gboko, William Avenya, in a letter dated May 20, 2022, announced the suspension of Alia from public ministry “after series of admonitions” to him.
Avenya noted in the letter sighted by The PUNCH that “the Mother Church does not allow her clerics to get involved in partisan politics on their own”.
The letter partly read, “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.”
Let’s Talk About Uba Sani’s Loyalty to the People of Kaduna -By Hassan Aliyu
The funny thing about El-Rufai’s roforofo fight with Governor Uba Sani is that he claims to hate godfatherism. In 2019,...
Gov. Fubara’s Reinstatement: Cause for Celebration or a Dangerous Slide into Armchair Democracy? -By Hon. Femi Oluwasanmi
Governor Fubara himself, during a recent visit to President Tinubu, openly admitted that he had come to Abuja to seek...
Africa, Fake Miracles and the Crisis in Public Health -By Patrick Iwelunmor
Yet it would be unjust to say all African churches are guilty. Many pastors actively encourage medical treatment, run hospitals,...
Kamala Has Doug, Why Can’t Nigeria Have A First Gentleman Too? -By Isaac Asabor
Many would resist. Some would sneer that a man who accepts such a title is not “man enough.” Others would...
As Senator Natasha Walks Back In, the Senate’s Men Must Stand Before Women and Girls, Before Nigeria, Before History -By Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi
Her refusal was more than defiance. It was a shield for women everywhere. To apologise for naming harassment would wound...