Hyacinth Alia, a Catholic priest and Flag bearer of the All Progressive Party(APC), has always been a household name in Benue. Famous for healing the sick and exorcising demons with a sprinkle of holy water, Alia’s name fast became a point of reference for testimonies.
Alia was born in Mbangur, Mbadede, Vandeikya LGA of Benue on May 14, 1966, to the family of Mr and Mrs Thomas Kastina Alia.
Although he had his primary education at St. Francis primary school, Agidi, Mbatiav in Gboko LGA, Alia began his religious journey at the St. James Minor Seminary, Makurdi in 1983.
His tertiary education took him to St. Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos, Plateau, for religious studies in 1987 and then he bagged a bachelor of arts degree in sacred theology in 1990 from an affiliate of Urbaniana University, Rome.
Alia furthered his education by acquiring a master of arts degree in religious education (psychology and counselling) in 1999 from Fordham University in New York, the United States.
He later sought an additional master’s degree in biomedical ethics from Duquesne University, Pennsylvania, US, in 2004 and a doctorate in the same course and the same university the following year.
On July 7, 1990, Alia was ordained a Catholic priest by late Bishop Athanasius Usuh, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, Makurdi. It was after his ordination that his healing masses programme began.
Every Saturday, Alia would gather sick and afflicted members of the congregation, People with mental illnesses, physical challenges, spiritual attacks and those seeking favours made up a large percentage of the crowd with numbersdoubling in subsequent gatherings.
Thereafter, testimonies of healing would roll out.
Athanasius Usuh sent Alia to the Vatican for the confirmation of his healing powers. The powers are a gift from God, the Vatican had said after the completion of its investigations.
Despite the Vatican’s confirmation, Alia was transferred to St Thomas Catholic Church, Anum, where he oversaw the renovation of the church and continued his healing programs.
The canon law of the Catholic Church forbids its clerics from being involved in partisan politics. As such, William Avenya, bishop of the Catholic diocese of Gboko said Alia had been “suspended” from public ministry until “he ceases from contumacy”, adding that the priest had been admonished severally before the action was taken.
However, the cleric said he was determined to redeem the state and that he was aware of the sacrifices required. There have also been concerns about the position of the first lady in the state given that the priest is not married.
Alia won’t be the first cleric to govern Benue if elected, as the late Moses Adasu, also a Catholic priest had served as governor from 1992 to 1993. But all eyes are keen to see how Alia will survive his many adversaries and mount the affairs of the state, spreading his healing powers all over the land.
However, The governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress in Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, is leading in the governorship race following results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
No fewer than 11 local government areas’ results have so far been released by the electoral commission.
The Catholic priest is leading in eight local government areas by a wide margin while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Titus Uba, is leading in three LGAs
