Benue is Benue. With so many intellectuals and wise men, having a graduate as a governor is good. Historically, our State’s political platform has hardly experienced a shortage of Ph.D. who has in the gubernatorial contest. However, there is now a new option for candidates with “due process” training. This exercise is to amplify what you can hear in the valley and in the hills.
The successful candidate must demonstrate the wisdom and resilience to focus on what needs to be done to revive efficiency and banish the demons of ineptitude in government. This is the fact that the most popular candidate today, Father Hyacinth Alia, is said to be in school.
The arrival of an imam on the political scene without “experience” caused some controversy and doubts about the possibility of victory. It is interesting to observe that both in the Church and in the secular society, the elites quickly go beyond the vocal language of castigation to political aspiration. The pulpit gave a homily on the sins of priests in politics, and some pews were poured with poison. In the culture of money politics, they seem insignificant, as politicians reject their ability to buy registration forms as candidates. The common people did not stop hoping and hoping that Father Alia’s dream would come true in this state of doubt.
Sensing Alia’s continued progress, critics, including the current governor, have challenged her to return to the primary duties of the priestly ministry. This is delicious for the unsuspecting audience. Unfortunately, the credibility of this challenge is frozen because the current government led by Samuel Ortom does not have the precedence to do “basic tasks”, without pensions and paid salaries, insecurity and no economic growth. In traditional ethics, bowing to the elderly in the queue for pension screening remains an example of disrespect for the elderly. Who should challenge whom?
What is even more surprising is the blasphemy of the Catholic priest who is so happy to arrest the evil deeds of those he considers his brothers. Under the gospel of charity, a member of the clergy who never spoke against the suffering of the Benue people suddenly became a preacher of the sins of the priest governor. Some go so far that it becomes difficult to tell the difference between what they are doing and what they are doing wrong. The confusion among the clergy was similar to that of Amaziah, the paid priest of Bethel, who felt threatened by Amos’ appearance and condemned him for disturbing the king’s sanctuary (Amos 7:10-13).
A series of litigations against Alia, after appearing as a candidate of a political party, made her a real political rollercoaster. I hope he doesn’t have a history of high blood pressure. Many have become frustrated with litigation donors who are determined to harass priests. Social media has recently been abuzz with anger towards professors who have been in court over Alia’s appearance. I don’t think the professor is completely wrong, though. The professor’s job is to develop a standard curriculum, plan lessons and assignments, and assess student performance and progress to achieve the highest goals. No one can challenge him to return to the main task.
Let us thank the professor who may have realized that Father Alia, who joined politics without previous experience, needed training; and perhaps it could be the meaning of everything that happened. In particular, the common words on the lips of those who oppose Alia’s candidacy is that they want “due process” to be respected. Indeed, “due process” education is badly needed as a leadership training course in Benue State. Lack of due process is at the heart of the failure of government in our country. After passing the final test of this “due process”, Father Alia must not forget the following important lesson from the sandwich course.
First, the Benue captivity organized by the elites is a moral cancer that needs to be cured. A more comprehensive application of “due process” is needed to promote the common interest of Benue citizens. Secondly, Benue State does not need another governor who will stand by the people without doing anything so that the people can sit back and sleep to rest. Third, the exploitation of human fate through the media shows concern as human abuse. Fourth, poverty must not remain a legacy that Benue parents will pass on to their children. Fifth, the process must be applied to pay workers and pensioners.
Most importantly, in the current situation in Benue, we must remember the words of Pope John XXIII that “if there is no personal initiative, political tyranny will happen.” Where “good or poor public office is concerned, incurable disorders will arise,” adding “the wanton exploitation of the weak by the strong.” It should also be understood by those whose spirituality is disconnected from earthly life, that the Church “concerns itself also with the exigencies of human daily life, with livelihood and education, and in general, temporal welfare and prosperity” (cf. Mater et. Magistra, 57- 58; 3).
Father Alia must show that he has graduated from this “due process” program and that the people of Benue will benefit from his training.