A significant controversy has erupted in Benue State following a priest's strong condemnation of Governor Hyacinth Alia's public statements on the region's security crisis. Reverend Father Chidi Phillip has publicly described the governor as a "total disgrace to the Catholic priesthood" for his recent comments.
Governor Alia's Controversial Statement
Speaking at a recent public function, Governor Hyacinth Alia, who is also a Catholic priest, directly addressed the security situation in Benue State. He firmly stated that while insecurity exists, the violence does not constitute genocide of any kind.
"I am a Reverend Father so being in governance does not take that away from me," Governor Alia declared. "In my state of Benue, we do not have any religious, ethnic, racial, national or state genocide. We don't have that. Do we have a number of insecurity in the state? Yes we do but it is not a genocide."
Fellow Priest's Explosive Reaction
The governor's comments prompted an immediate and forceful response from Fr. Chidi Phillip, who expressed his outrage through a Facebook post. He accused Governor Alia of betraying his priestly vows and the people he was ordained to serve.
"Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia is a total disgrace to the Catholic priesthood," Fr. Phillip wrote. He emphasized that despite the governor's political ambitions, "the mark of ordination never disappears. Once a priest, always a priest. And because of that, we expect truth, courage, and moral clarity from him, not political gymnastics."
The Heart of the Conflict
Fr. Phillip's condemnation highlights the deep tension between political office and religious duty. He pointed to specific tragedies affecting Christian communities in Benue that contradict the governor's assertions.
"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,'" the priest wrote.
He expressed profound disappointment that a priest trained to defend the weak now appears to defend political power instead. "Instead of standing with the persecuted, he stands with those who want the world to believe nothing is happening," Fr. Phillip stated.
Broader Implications for Church and State
This public confrontation between two Catholic priests has sparked discussions about the proper relationship between religious leadership and political power. Fr. Phillip directly referenced the Church's prohibition against priests holding political office, noting that "politics demands compromise. Priesthood demands truth. And when a man tries to mix both, truth is always the first casualty."
The priest concluded his emotional post with both a prayer and a warning: "I am praying for you big bro. Padre, I know you are just trying to secure a second tenure. But for Christ's sake, speak the truth for once." He urged the governor to consider being remembered as "a priest who sacrificed his position to save his people" rather than one who ignored the bloodshed for political ambition.
This confrontation, occurring in late November 2025, represents one of the most direct public challenges to Governor Alia's handling of the persistent security crisis in Benue State.
