The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has been officially suspended from exercising his duties as a Catholic priest by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Most Rev. William Avenya.
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The canonical directive prohibits Governor Alia from parading himself or performing functions as an ordained priest of the Roman Catholic Church.
The suspension is in strict compliance with the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, which explicitly forbids ordained clergy from participating in active partisan politics and holding secular governmental office.
The diocese maintained that the measure remains in effect as long as the governor continues to occupy public office and participate in partisan governance.
