From the altar of God, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia stepped into the murky waters of partisan politics and was successfully elected Governor of Benue State in the 2023 general election. In this piece, Dirisu Yakubu traces the Catholic priest’s journey to political stardom and related developments.
It is not a novelty for a cleric to aspire to, and win, a major election in this part of the world. Yet, in Nigeria’s turbulent political history, a few Christian clergy have risen to the top of the political ladder, succeeding where established politicians failed. Rev Fr Moses Adasu and Rev Jolly Nyame, former governors of Benue and Taraba states respectively, readily come to mind. In the build‑up to the March 18 governorship election, another Catholic priest, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, caused a stir by emerging as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Benue State. Given his background as a worker in the vineyard of the Lord, few gave him a chance to make the primaries, especially considering the war chest required for candidate selection in this region. Even after his emergence, only a negligible few supported the popular cleric.
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, symbolised by Governor Samuel Ortom, reminded anyone who would listen that its candidate, Titus Uba, was fated to continue from where Ortom would stop on May 29, 2023. After balloting, sorting and counting, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced Fr Alia the winner, with 473,933 votes, leaving the PDP standard‑bearer in a distant second with 223,913 votes. Since his emergence, public commentators have advanced various reasons for this feat, with the religious community arguing that the prayers of the faithful triumphed over the antics of men.
Born on May 14, 1966, Hyacinth Alia attended St Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos, earning a Diploma in Religious Studies in 1987. In 1990 he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Theology. His quest for further education took him to Fordham University, USA, where he earned a Master of Arts in Religious Education with expertise in Psychology and Counselling. He also earned an MA in Biomedical Ethics from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, and later a PhD in the same discipline from the same institution. Following his ordination, Alia served in various capacities: vicar of St John Parish, Gboko; Assistant Cathedral Administrator, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, Makurdi; Parish Priest of St Jude’s Parish, Koti‑Yough; and parochial vicar of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Astoria, New York, USA.
Described as a man of indescribable humility, Alia’s calling to the priesthood in the Order of Melchizedek manifested in social works across the state, providing food and relief materials to the poor and needy. With his expertise in biomedical ethics, he launched an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, preaching abstinence and fidelity as the most effective preventive measures for single and married people respectively. Long before entering partisan politics, Alia had secured a place in the consciousness of Christians—particularly Catholics—in Benue and neighbouring Taraba states. Aware of the Catholic Church’s strict ethical codes, he cleverly kept Sundays for Mass and reserved Saturdays for his healing masses. Within a few years, many Catholic and non‑Catholic members flocked to his centre seeking miracles; stories abound of his holy water turning around the fortunes of businesses. This early bonding with the people through healing is believed to have contributed significantly to the solidarity shown for him at the ballot box.
Mrs Mary Asatsar, a devout Catholic and member of the Catholic Women’s Organisation, has known Father Alia for 25 years. Originally from Edo State, she worships at St John’s Catholic Church, Mutum Biyu, Taraba State, and is married to a Tiv man from Benue. She told The …: “As a Catholic, I cannot explain how happy and excited I am about Father’s victory. I am a registered voter but can only vote in Taraba, where I live. Many of us, especially CWO members, would have loved to travel to Benue just to vote for the Reverend Father.” She recalled their first encounter: “My husband and I travelled to his village, Aliade in Benue, seeking a herbal solution for his chronic waist pain. A friend mentioned Fr Alia. He prayed for us, gave us a bottle of holy water, and two weeks later the pain disappeared.” That experience shaped her relationship with Alia. “His church in Benue became a Mecca for us. We attended his Mass in Gboko frequently, and my petty sewing business witnessed a major leap. Friends from Mutum Biyu, Lomodo and Bali joined us for blessings; none of us returned the same way we went.”
Sam Agah, a Tiv good‑governance advocate residing in Abuja, echoed Mary’s view in an exclusive interview: “The healing masses and miracle services that Rev Father has performed for decades put him on a first‑line basis with many Benue residents, especially in Tiv‑speaking areas. The masses for the poor, coupled with his reputation for supporting the needy, boosted his popularity and ultimately led to his victory.” The publication could not independently verify the healing claims.
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ortom, Nathaniel Ikyur, dismissed the priest’s popularity as fake, likening it to “hypnotising” voters. “He should show us the people he healed, the businesses he turned around. The truth is he hypnotised people who fell for cheap lies. I attend Christ Embassy and hear testimonies of healing; those people can be identified and will tell you what happened at the touch of the word of God.” Ikyur added that “Father Alia does voodoo politics,” and blamed the PDP’s internal division for its poor performance.
Rev Fr Alia’s election on March 18 places him among the A‑league of Nigerian politicians, but governing Benue for the next four years will be daunting. Outgoing Governor Samuel Ortom witnessed massive killings of defenseless Benue indigenes by gunmen, with the President‑led federal government doing little to curb the violence. Frustrated by the lack of progress, Ortom openly rebuked the federal government, a stance that earned both applause and condemnation. While the opposition praised Ortom for speaking truth to power, the presidency and APC chieftains in Benue accused him of hiding his failure to provide services.
As the cleric‑turned‑politician prepares to assume office, Benue indigene Cletus Odeh told The … that security remains a huge challenge and residents expect a quick fix “because of what they have been through.” He said, “People believe the governor‑elect has the answers. Many see him as a true man of God, a priest who prays and gets answers without delay. I am Catholic, and many believe the killings will end. But the federal government must assist the governor to make the state safe; he cannot do it alone, as security is an exclusive federal responsibility.”
Beyond insecurity, Alia will inherit a backlog of unpaid salaries and pensions. During a courtesy visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, the governor‑elect chided Ortom for leaving Benue workers in the “Intensive Care Unit,” a jab Ortom did not take lightly. Ortom himself acknowledged the huge burden awaiting Alia in settling outstanding salaries and pensions, despite claiming he did his best with the federal bailout. Whether Alia can succeed where Ortom failed—particularly in security and prompt payment of workers’ salaries—remains to be seen. Will his ecclesiastical powers bring an end to years of lamentation and little progress? Time will tell.
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