Nigerian Concord Newspaper
A member of the Catholic Church in Benue state, Michael Ikyem has tasked the governor of the State, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia to prove his innocence in yesterday’s mob attack on the Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, Mr. Peter Obi by allowing a neutral probe by security agencies.
Ikyem stated this on his verified Facebook page today, saying that “If your government had no involvement in what happened, then Your Excellency should have nothing to fear from a full, transparent and independent investigation. Let the facts be established.
“Let those who planned, financed, organised or participated in any unlawful action be identified. And if anyone connected to government is found to have abused public office or resources, that person should face the consequences, regardless of political loyalty”
According to him, the ugly incident surrounding the disruption of Peter Obi’s movement in Makurdi should make every responsible Benue person pause and reflect, stressing that “Whatever our political differences may be, Benue must never become a place where political disagreement is settled through intimidation, roadblocks, threats or violence”
He stressed further that “Your Excellency, Governor Hyacinth Alia, you carry a responsibility greater than that of a politician. You are the Governor of every Benue citizen—those who support you and those who disagree with you. Your past as a Catholic priest makes the expectations even higher, not because the Catholic Church should be held responsible for the actions of a former cleric, but because your public leadership should reflect the values of peace, justice, truth and human dignity. This is therefore a moment for leadership and accountability”
Equally, Ikyem noted that if the investigation establishes that the incident was organised or sponsored by political actors outside government, those responsible must also be held accountable under the law. Justice must not depend on the political party of the offender.
He wrote further that
THE PEOPLE OF BENUE DESERVE TO KNOW:
Who organised the youths? Who mobilised them? Who financed or encouraged them? Who gave them the information or instructions that led to the confrontation? Were public resources or officials involved? Were there failures in security arrangements? And why was a political disagreement allowed to degenerate into an incident capable of threatening lives?
These questions should not be dismissed as political propaganda. They are legitimate questions in a democracy.
Accountability is not persecution. Investigation is not witch-hunting. Justice is not partisan.
Your Excellency, if you truly had no hand in the incident, one of the strongest ways to demonstrate that is to insist that the truth be uncovered and that those responsible—whoever they are—be brought to justice. Do not protect anyone merely because that person claims loyalty to you or your administration.
A leader’s greatness is not measured by how many people defend him, but by whether he is willing to allow the truth to be established even when the truth may be uncomfortable.
At a time when Benue is already suffering from insecurity, displacement and the loss of innocent lives, our people cannot afford the additional burden of political thuggery.
TO THOSE ACCUSING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND CATHOLIC PRIESTS
Please, let us be fair and responsible.
The Catholic Church is bigger than any individual priest, politician or political party. A man who leaves active priestly ministry and enters partisan politics does not turn the Catholic Church into a political organisation.
Do not make the Church the scapegoat for political disagreements.
If the governor has acted wrongly, criticise the governor. If a political associate has acted unlawfully, investigate that individual. If a former priest in politics makes a political decision, hold the politician accountable.
But do not condemn priests, bishops or the entire Catholic Church for the political conduct of an individual.
The Church must remain a prophetic voice—speaking truth to power, defending the vulnerable, condemning violence and calling every side to justice and peace.
TO THE YOUTHS WHO ALLOWED THEMSELVES TO BE USED
My dear young people, you are worth more than anyone’s political money.
If some of you were recruited, paid, transported or encouraged to confront Peter Obi or any other politician, ask yourselves: What exactly were you being used to achieve?
The person who sends you may have money, influence and security. But if violence occurs, you are the one who may be arrested, injured, prosecuted or killed. Do not allow any politician to turn your frustration into a weapon against another Nigerian.
If you know who recruited or sponsored you, have the courage to tell the truth to the appropriate authorities. Protecting a sponsor at the expense of your own future is not loyalty; it is self-destruction.
And if money changed hands to provoke violence, those who financed it must be investigated just as seriously as those who carried it out.
A final appeal to all sides
Peter Obi and Governor Alia are both Nigerians. They have the right to their political convictions. Their supporters have the right to disagree with one another.
But no political ambition is worth one Nigerian life.
Benue does not need political warlords.
Benue does not need sponsored youths.
Benue does not need intimidation.
Benue needs responsible leadership, courageous citizens and institutions strong enough to hold everyone accountable.
Let the police and relevant authorities investigate this incident professionally and impartially. Let evidence—not rumours, propaganda or political loyalty—determine what happened.
And when the truth is established, let there be consequences.
If those responsible are government officials, prosecute them.
If they are political sponsors, prosecute them. If they are thugs, prosecute them.
If there was negligence by security personnel, investigate it.
If allegations are false, establish that clearly as well. Nobody should be above the law. That is how democracy becomes stronger.
Governor, this is your opportunity to show that Benue under your leadership will not tolerate political violence, regardless of who is involved.