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By 247ureports.com
Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, has said the Catholic Church’s rules were not followed when Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia entered politics, and that his suspension from priestly ministry followed from that.
What the Cardinal Said
Responding to a question about the governor’s status, Onaiyekan said he had nothing against Alia personally but that the church’s requirements had to be respected. “I have nothing against Father Alia, but you’re asking a question, the law of our church has not been followed, he did not meet those criteria and his bishop told him no, and he decided he will go and his bishop said okay, if you go, I suspend you,” he said.
The version of the remark circulating online adds that Alia is “still parading himself as a Reverend Father despite being suspended.” 247ureports.com could not find that wording in published coverage of the cardinal’s comments, so the quote above is the one that can be verified.
The Suspension
The facts behind the cardinal’s account are well documented. Alia, ordained a Catholic priest in 1990, was suspended by his bishop, Bishop William Avenya of the Diocese of Gboko, after he ignored guidance not to run for governor of Benue State on the APC platform. The bishop said the suspension would remain in effect until Alia “ceases from contumacy.” Alia won the 2023 election and was sworn in on May 29, 2023. He is not the first Benue priest to take this path: Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu accepted suspension and was elected governor in 1999.
Reading the Terms Carefully
Some online headlines say Alia is “no longer a Catholic priest,” but that overstates what a suspension means. Under Catholic teaching, ordination is permanent, and suspension restricts the exercise of priestly functions rather than removing a man from the clerical state. Many Nigerian media outlets and supporters continue to address Alia as “Rev. Fr.,” which he has not been reported to have rejected. 247ureports.com could not confirm whether the suspension has since been lifted or modified.
A Contested Legacy
The governor’s relationship with the church has stayed in the public eye. Commentators have debated whether priests should hold political office, and some critics, including in a recent opinion piece, have cited his conduct in office, including a dispute over access to a displaced persons’ camp, as evidence of the tension between priesthood and politics. Alia’s supporters point to awards he has received and argue that his priestly training suits him for administrative roles.
Response
247ureports.com had not located a response from Alia, the Benue State Government or the Diocese of Gboko to the cardinal’s remarks at the time of this report.
