Catholic Bishop Urges New Nigerian Governor, a Suspended Priest, to Exercise Compassion

Katsina, 31 May, 2023 / 8:45 PM

The Catholic Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese in Nigeria has called upon the new Governor of the country’s Benue State to exercise compassion in his leadership.

In his homily during the thanksgiving Mass for the new administration of Benue State on Pentecost Sunday, May 28, Bishop Isaac Bundepuun Dugu urged Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the Catholic Priest that Bishop William Amove Avenya suspended in May 2022, to spearhead “practical measures” to address the challenges of the people, showing understanding and empathy.

“The people of Benue State are trusting that you will simply be their Governor, compassionate enough to understand, identify and empathize with the sufferings, struggles, and challenges they face daily,” Bishop Bundepuun told the Nigerian politician who was a member of the Clergy of Gboko Diocese in Nigeria, and who was suspended from public ministry for engaging himself in “partisan politics”. 

The Nigerian Catholic Bishop cautioned the new Governor against unnecessary wrangles, saying, “Your Excellency, your administration must not be heard or seen bickering over inherited loans, inherited pensions, inherited jumbo appointments, and or inherited burdens,”

“We hope to hear from you the practical measures with which you intend to tackle these challenges,” Bishop Bundepuun told Governor Alia during the Thanksgiving Mass that was celebrated at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral of Makurdi Diocese.

Turning his attention to the people of Benue State, the Catholic Church leader urged them to give the new administration a chance to serve them. He said in reference to Governor Alia, “Benue people need him to succeed. If he fails, we will all fail.”

The Catholic Bishop who started his Episcopal Ministry last July following his appointment on 9 April 2022, invoked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the Nigerian State. 

“We commend Benue State, the new administration, the Church, the traditional institution, our families to the maternal solicitude of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Lady of the Benue and Mother of Perpetual Help,” Bishop Bundepuun implored during the Pentecost Sunday Eucharistic celebration.