Hyacinth Alia

Hyacinth Iormem Alia (born 15 May 1966) is a Nigerian Catholic cleric and politician who has served as the governor of Benue State since 29 May 2023.[1][2][3]

Hyacinth Iormem Alia
19th Governor of Benue State
Assumed office
29 May 2023
DeputySamuel Ode
Preceded bySamuel Ortom
Personal details
Born (1966-05-15) 15 May 1966
Mbangur, Mbadede, Vandeikya, Benue State, Nigeria
Political partyAll Progressives Congress
OccupationPolitician, Catholic priest

Early life and education

Hyacinth Alia was born on 15 May 1966,[4]in Mbangur, Mbadede, Vandeikya local government area of Benue State.[5] He got his First School Leaving Certificate from St. Francis Primary school, Agidi, Mbatiav in Gboko local government area of the state and in 1983, he enrolled at St. James Minor Seminary, Makurdi.[6] He gained admission to study at St. Augustine's Major Seminary, Jos. He studied for a diploma in Religious studies in 1987 and a Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Theology in 1990.[7] In 1999, he obtained a Master's in Religious Education (Psychology and Counseling) at Fordham University, Bronx, New York City.[7] In 2004, he got an additional master's degree in biomedical ethics from Duquesne University, Pennsylvania. He received a doctorate in the same course at Duquesne in 2005, but his dissertation is not in the library holdings.[5]

Ordination and suspension as a priest

Hyacinth Alia was ordained a Catholic priest on 7 July 1990, by Bishop Athanasius Atule Usuh of Makurdi Catholic Diocese.[8] In May of 2022, he was suspended from his priestly faculties by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, since Alia had declared himself a candidate for the political office of governor.[9]

The bishop explained that "The Mother Church does not allow her clerics to get involved in partisan politics on their own Ex can. 285, 3 CIC. You are aware that my son, your brother, and your priest have purchased the party forms to contest for the Governor of Benue State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is totally against our vocation."[10]

During the course of Alia's campaign, it was noted that he was popular among Benue indigenes due to his previous work as an alleged miracle worker.

References
  1. "INEC Declares Catholic Priest, Fr Hyacinth Alia Benue Gov-Elect". 20 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  2. Ejekwonyilo, Ameh (20 March 2023). "Catholic priest Hyacinth Alia wins Benue State governorship election". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  3. "Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia wins Benue guber election". TheCable. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  4. https://alia2023.org/biography-of-fr-hyacinth-alia/
  5. "CLOSE-UP: Alia, the miracle-working priest who wants to 'liberate Benue from poverty'". TheCable. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  6. "Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia biography: Benue state govnor-elect na catholic priest". BBC News Pidgin. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  7. Ukwu, Jerrywright (18 March 2023). "Masters in religious education & 7 other quick facts about Benue APC's Fr. Alia". Legit.ng – Nigeria news. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  8. "Father Alia, Pastor Eno: From The Church To Governance". 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  9. Eblotié, Guy (31 May 2023). "Suspended priest in Nigeria is sworn in as state governor".
  10. Azeez, Wasilat (21 May 2022). "Catholic church suspends priest for joining Benue governorship race". TheCable. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
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