Political appointees from Mbayongo Council Ward of Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State have condemned in strong terms, a petition written by a member of the Ward to Pope Leo XIV, against the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iornem Alia.

The petitioner, Mr. Joseph Waya, a former Gubernatorial candidate of the All-Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2023 has in the petition, addressed to the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty, Waya alleging that Alia has brought the Catholic Church in Nigeria to disrepute through his actions in office.

In a joint press release by appointees from Mbayongo Council Ward on behalf of stakeholders, signed by the trio of Barr Seember Wayo, Principal Special Adviser (PSA) to the Executive Governor on Legal Matters; Rev. Solomon Semaka, PSA on National Programs, CSOs, Voter Education and Strategic Interventions; and John Akuse Special Advisor on SDGs, the stakeholders dismissed the petition as a frivolous character assassination campaign.

Full text below;
Democracy offers us multiple avenues to decently air out views, both as opposition politicians and members of the ruling party. The role played by opposition politicians especially through constructive criticism is germaine in sustaining democracy, serving as checks and balances to those in power. However, when opposition elements decide to abuse such powers, it is the duty of men of conscience to set the records straight.

It is on this note, that we the undersigned as critical stakeholders have decided to condemn in totality, the shameful outing of Joseph Waya, who is himself from Mbayongo Council Ward like us but has taken the unpopular path of disparaging a government that has given so much to Mbayongo people in terms of appointments and infrastructural development prospects.

As true sons of Mbayongo who are serving His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hycainth Iornem Alia in different capacities, Joseph Waya’s petition to the Catholic pontiff smacks of nothing but bitterness, unhealthy rivalry and childish voyage of lies and distorted facts to gain popularity ahead of the next general election having been roundly defeated in the last general election by Governor Alia.

Mr. Joseph Waya, a former Gubernatorial candidate of the All-Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2023 general election has alleged through a petition addressed to Nigeria’s Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty, that Alia has brought the Catholic Church in Nigeria to disrepute through his actions in office. This is a baseless lie that has no connection with the realities on ground in Benue and Nigeria at large. For a Governor that is receiving awards and accolades across the country for his excellent stewardship, Waya’s claim can best be described as a joke of the century.

We, therefore, dismiss his petition as a desperate execution of a poorly orchestrated frivolous character assassination campaign plot by disgruntled losers. As stakeholders and a voice of the good people of Mbayongo Council Ward, we are disappointed by the poor and acrimonious outing of a son of the soil who has descended so low to attack the person and office of the Executive Governor of Benue State to feed his fading political ego. This show of shame is nothing but blatant act of character assassination campaign, deep rooted in political rivalry occasioned by the petitioner’s inability to move on after his abysmal defeat at the polls.

For someone who claims Catholic roots, Joseph Waya’s choice of blackmail and propaganda as a weapon to get the Governor’s attention invalidate his claims and exposes him as one whose spurious campaign of calumny is just another attention seeking charade to gain popularity ahead of the 2027 general elections which he intends to contest.

With zero political, social and religious relevance to Mbayongo people, Waya’s antics must be seen for what they truly are; a deliberate attempt to sabotage developmental efforts of Mbayongo stakeholders and to pitch the Governor against the people of Mbayongo Council Ward. Fabricating lies and distorting facts by alleging financial misconduct in an administration that’s built solidly on transparency, accountability and efficient use of scarce resources is callous, malicious and highly unacceptable.

It is amusing that the petitioner chooses to rely on ‘Zebra Reporters’, an obscure online blog, instead of referencing the Auditor-General’s reports, budget performance documents, and anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in matters of financial misconduct. This exposes not just the hypocrisy behind this outing but its lack of debt.

Joseph Wayas Catholic-Christian background as alluded in the petition is questionable. The claim that there are no meaningful projects on ground is a complete misrepresentation of reality as the Alia administration has executed and is still executing numerous legacy projects within just two years. If Wayas is not a pathological liar then he is clearly a bad Catholic who is alive for bad faith and doom.

The indisputable fact remains that Benue state under Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia is on a fast developmental trajectory as evidenced by the many road projects that are ongoing across Makurdi, Gboko, Otukpo, Kwande and other local government areas, with many already commissioned. Worthy of note is the recent pronouncements of the governor on new road networks within and across Mbayongo council ward, again we thank the governor for keeping faith with the people of Mbayongo who are fully behind his administration.

Salaries and pensions are being paid with unprecedented regularity, with civil servants in the state receiving their welfare packages latest 25th of every month. Hospitals are being rehabilitated and equipped. Schools are being renovated while teacher welfare is being prioritised. The Governor has also embarked on massive recruitment drives across different ministries in the state to inject fresh ideas into the Benue workforce.
Beyond this, the administration is already attracting global partnerships with various development partners like European Union, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Organization for Migration (IOM) United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) United Nations Human Settlement (UN-HABITAT). As we write this rebuttal, His Excellency is on his way to Abuja to the launch of the EU Funded Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria as the key Note Speaker on behalf of the other Fellow Governors of Yobe, Adamawa, Kano and Sokoto States. This project is in line with his dream of returning the displaced people of Benue State back to their ancestral homes. To insinuate that His Excellency has abandoned the people and the Anti-open grazing law and is hobnobbing with the Herder’s men is a lie from the pit of hell. Like His Excellency has always maintained, “we don’t talk security, we do security” Efforts at reconciliation of the Herders and Framers have reached advanced stage and this is part of what has endeared the European Union Delegation to Nigeria to Benue State. Ongoing Efforts with other partners such as UNIDO, GIZ, and AFC to industrialize the state and build a climate-smart economy are at advanced stages. These are already yielding results as many of the industries are almost completed with great prospects for enhancing the economic fortunes of the state.

We deem it fit, at this juncture to assure His Excellency, Governor Alia that the people of Mbayongo and indeed, all Benue sons and daughters are with him regardless of the number of baseless petitions flying around by unscrupulous politicians whose stock in trade is mischief. The Governor’s strategic rural roadmap and his industrial pursuits are well documented and appreciated by the masses and nobody on a wild goose chase can erase these footprints.

In conclusion we leave the good people of Benue State with this posers Apart from Governor Aper Aku and Fr Orshi Adasu of blessed memories, who has left any legacy projects within this short period of time in Office in the leadership of Benue State: Overhead bridges in Makurdi, Gboko, Repositioning of the State Civil Service, Massive employment of Benue indigenes recently by SUBEB, Renovation of abandoned PHCs, and Schools, construction and beautification of major roads not just in Makurdi but across the three senatorial zones, Lighted streets and suburbs etc.

Ladies and gentlemen, we shall conclude by passing a vote of confidence on the peoples Governor, His Excellency Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia whose tenure has brought unprecedented development, increased welfare, industrialization, job creation and the restoration of peace in areas ravaged by insecurity. Those who seek to tarnish the Governor’s impeccable leadership credentials must be exposed and shamed by Benue people. Governor Alia will complete his 4+4 tenure this is not negotiable.

Finally, without meaning to take up any arms against our own, we dare our brother, son and husband to show case his contribution to the Yongotiev community to warrant these attacks on the first Governor to recognise that we have developmental needs and has come to our aid?