I’ve forgiven those who worked against me in 2023 — Alia

By Titus Atondu, Makurdi

Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia has disclosed that he has forgiven all those who worked against him during his ambition to become the Governor of the state in the 2023  Governorship  election.

Alia made the disclosure on Sunday at Saint Joseph’s Catholic church Korinya City during a Thanksgiving mass in his honour and  classmates at the major seminary thirty four years ago of priesthood.

The Governor explained that the time for campaigns were over and the pivotal issue at the moment was to deliver dividend of democracy to the people of Benue state irrespective of their political affiliation and religious background

He further explained that his administration was committed to addressing  poverty and hunger in the land and advised  the people of Benue especially the youth to embrace Agriculture, added that there was so much wealth in Agriculture and urged the people to take advantage of some of his programmes to benefit from them by forming farm cooperative societies.

He disclosed that about one hundred and twenty of them were admitted into the major seminary but only thirty Six of them were able to make it to the priesthood and many had answered the divine call saying he was going back to church after his assignment to sanitise the political system in Nigeria.

Governor Alia called on the people especially the Christian community to always support Reverend Fathers among them to do the work of the Lord and thanked father Doki for great work he was doing in the church and assured him of  government support at all times.

He thanked those who have come to identify with them in their thirty Three years in priesthood, added that they are grateful to God for giving them so many years, the strength and voice to preach the gospel of Salvation to the people.

Also, Reverend Father fidelis Akumbur tasked the congregation to always look up to God who has solutions to all human problems and advised the christians community in Benue to sustain their prayers for Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration to enable him complete the task ahead of him as the executive Governor of the state and thanked the set for the sacrifices they have made for the younger priest to excel.

Parish priest of Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Korinya City and one among the celebrants, Reverend Father Emmanuel Doki thanked Governor Alia for his peaceful leadership  disposition and the good works he is doing for the state and appealed to the Governor to support the church to complete the ongoing church project.

Nigerian NewsDirect reports that some of the Governor’s mates in the priesthood who attended the Thanksgiving mass were Father Doki, Father Sylvester Omonke, Father Benald Asogo, Father marcellenius Yese, and Bishop Thomas Tsav of Methodist church Makurdi while many groups presented gifts to Governor Alia during the occasion.