By Citizenship Newspaper
The Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has accused some religious leaders in the State of provoking trouble via their inflammatory utterances.
Governor Alia who made the accusation in Makurdi at the Government House Roundabout while addressing a crowd of Pro-Tinubu groups as part of the June 12 Democracy Day celebration, referred to then as ‘Religious Bandits’, alleging that they are the ones fuelling the insecurity situation the State has been experiencing.
He said they do this through their consistent rhetorics of unverified comments and distortion of facts.
Said he: “There are some religious leaders I call them ‘religious bandits’ who are fueling the bad situation we are experiencing here. And how do they support that, by their rhetorics. If you do not have the facts about Benue and Nigeria, shut up. Don’t just say something because you have the holy altar and oil to speak. Speak what you know and what can be verified.
“There are some leaders who are fanning the embers of discord that peace should not return to the State.
“We are still faced with insecurity as our people are killed unprovoked. We will take out this total menace and carnage of killings. We will not rest on our oars to ensure that total peace returns to Benue especially in the 6 LGAs that are in the frontline of insecurity. Am confident that with the support of the President, we are going to get done with insecurity completely in the State. Some traditional and religious leaders are also marching and fighting with us for peace to return to the State. Our people are suffering alot and for some of us we have taken an oath to defend them and bring back peace”.
The Governor stressed that the day calls for sober reflection of how far the state and nation has journeyed in 26 years of uninterrupted democratic government, adding “We must pay tribute to the heroes who fought for democracy and sacrificed their lives for the unity of the country
“Those heroes some are with us, others have gone to be with the Lord. They went through alot including imprisonment, sacrificing for the unity of our country. It is not yet uhuru for us. As we celebrate this day, people of conscience should note that what unites us is greater than what divides us. So, we must think positively for the State and the nation. We should have faith and hope for the nation.
“Let us have a change of attitude and a different way of thinking. Let us sacrifice for the state and nation some more. Bring solutions to us and stop putting kerosene on fire. Let us know that Nigeria is our country and we can’t have another one. Let us be our brother’s keeper. To the youths, a new Benue is possible and you are the new Benue. Let us do our best to ensure that Benue State is for prosperity and is secured. I am with the masses because they are with the people”, he stated.
