A Catholic cleric, Rev. Fr. Prince Chidi Philip, has criticised Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia over his reported statement that there is no religious genocide in the state.
Philip described the governor as a “disgrace to the Catholic priesthood” in a statement shared on social media, questioning his handling of insecurity and attacks affecting communities in Benue.
Although Alia is no longer serving as a Catholic priest in the conventional pastoral sense due to his political office, Philip argued that his priestly background placed a continuing moral responsibility on him to speak for vulnerable people.
“While communities in Benue have been wiped out, churches burnt, farmers murdered, women assaulted, and villages taken over, Governor Alia stands before the world and boldly declares: ‘There is no religious genocide in Benue,'” Philip said.
The cleric accused the governor of prioritising political interests over the suffering of residents and questioned his decision to defend the government’s position rather than speak out against alleged injustices.
“A Catholic priest trained for years to defend the weak now turns around to defend power,” he said.
Philip further argued that the Church’s opposition to priests holding political office was justified, saying politics often demands compromise while priesthood requires truth and moral clarity. He urged Governor Alia to consider the experiences of victims and residents affected by insecurity rather than focusing on securing a second term in office.
“It is better to be remembered as a priest who sacrificed his position to save his people than as a priest who ignored the blood in his land because of his second-tenure ambition,” Philip said.
He concluded by expressing concern over the governor’s alleged denial of the scale of suffering in Benue, while offering prayers for him.
