By Tordue Gudu
The desperation of the suspended priest, Hyacinth Alia to govern Benue state despite resentment and a legion of litigations challenging his disputed emergence as candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Benue State reached a tipping point last week.
This was confirmation that some enemies of the state and those who stood aloof and are still unconcerned about the carnage going on in the state through the instrumentality of well-armed Fulani herdsmen are solidly behind him and are funding his campaign towards an ambition destined for the rocks.
The suspended priest who was before now gallivanting around with some governors sympathetic to Miyetti Allah, one of the groups that have variously taken responsibility for the persistent massacre of Benue people in their communities had early this week taken delivery of a whopping N5 billion as support from the Fulani group and three northern governors for some concessions if he wins the 2023 governorship election.
That Alia has not been seen with any Christian leader, but Muslims and of Fulani stock alone is worrisome. And taking money from them with the promise of repealing the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state is heartbreaking.
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The latest show of desperation by the controversial priest who has been suspended by the Catholic Church for rebellion is the height of betrayal to the people and an unconscionable show of disdain for victims and families of those who died in the incessant attacks on the people by merchants of death sponsored by the Fulanis and shielded by some high profile politicians and businessmen of Fulani extraction.
One wonders how a man who claims to be a messiah of the people is in bed with their enemies in a romantic affair that is clearly a voyage to sell them for a porridge of beans. Little wonder that the acclaimed chosen one has never condemned the heinous acts in Benue nor visited any of the camps for Internally Displaced Persons to identify with them.
That suspended Fr. Alia has promised to cede some portions of Benue land to Miyetti Allah members in return for the N5 billion he received from them calls for concern among the people. Sadly, while the people were grieving on hearing that the embattled APC candidate had taken a price for their heads and land, the failed clergy man was busy adulterating gospel songs to promote the Muslim-Muslim ticket that has been widely condemned even among Christian and some Muslim members of the APC who have conscience.
The man seen as a rebel by the Catholic Church is also said to have signed an agreement to make some Miyetti Allah leaders tax consultants in Benue state. What could be more callous and an assault on the sensibilities of an average Benue man, woman or child directly or indirectly affected by the dastardly acts of the merchants of death who have made communities in the state killing fields? But what should one expect from a man who toed the path of his benefactor and the sole proprietor of Benue APC, George Akume by publicly declaring that the Benue people are the ones killing themselves, and not the Fulanis.
That the whole arrangement to mortgage the lives and lands of Benue people is facilitated by Governors Aminu Masari of Katsina state and Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state is clearly a confirmation of those who have been bankrolling and coordinating the heinous activities of those bent on wiping Benue people from the face of the earth and inheriting their land.
Granted that the mouth-watering sum of five billion naira looks too good to be ignored by the suspended priest who has already taken the money, he is no doubt between the rock and the hard place.
Benue people may be divided politically which is normal in a multi-party system, but they are understandably united when it comes to the security of their lives, property as well as their common heritage and patrimony.
That is where the disputed Governorship candidate of the APC would have to deal with his dilemma. How would he balance the people’s interest and security with the romance he has with their killers without losing on one side or both? How would a man whose candidature is under contest in court because he emerged through a process described by some stakeholders in the party as “yahoo, yahoo” primary be collecting money from some desperate enemies of his state with elephantine promises when he is not sure of being on the ballot? How would he pay them back their monies if he happens to be thrown out of the race by the court, especially as reports indicate that he has started spending the money in his usual careless way?
Alia who has no record of any achievement in his 32 years as a Catholic Priest has stretched his desperation beyond boundaries as videos emerged last week of him adulterating a well-known Tiv gospel song to justify and promote the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the APC. Nothing could be more nauseating than seeing an ordained “man of God” celebrating an assault on the Church in such a sorry manner simply because his association with elements of darkness provides him excitement.
The indiscretion of the contumacious priest has further compounded the woes of the APC which has been rejected by the Benue people, as his latest outing has nailed the coffin of the party in the state.
The calls by various groups even within APC for the rejection of the priest due to his lack of honesty and track record of failure and primitive accumulation of wealth belonging to the Church to service his expensive lifestyle, especially weakness for women and material things are not to be ignored.
The governorship of Benue state should not be given to a man who has never recorded any positive stride in his life. To think that he has failed everywhere he found himself and has accepted to be the beneficiary of a dubious process is enough for the people to shun him. And his acceptance to trade whatever is it that the Benue people cherish including their lives, land and dignity for a political position due to selfish interest is a bigger reason for the people who have the final say to ensure that he is roundly defeated at the polls come February, 2023, that is if he survives his legal battles (which I doubt that he will).
* Gudu is a Concerned Benue Citizen.
