Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has dismissed a petition sent against him by Joseph Waya, the 2023 APGA governorship candidate, to Pope Leo XIV. He described the move as baseless and motivated by personal bitterness.

Waya, through the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty, accused Governor Alia of bringing the Catholic Church in Nigeria into disrepute through his conduct in office.

In response, Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, said the petition was misleading, lacked credibility, and was a failed attempt to drag the Catholic Church into politics. He insisted that such claims were built on gossip and frustration rather than facts.

The governor explained that allegations of financial misconduct were not backed by any credible records. According to him, Waya relied on online reports instead of proper documents like Auditor-General’s reports, budget papers, or anti-corruption findings.

Highlighting his achievements, Alia pointed to road projects in Makurdi, Gboko, Otukpo, and other areas, as well as prompt salary and pension payments. He also listed hospital rehabilitation, school renovations, and partnerships with global agencies like UNIDO, GIZ, and AFC to industrialize the state.

He further rejected accusations of violence, conflicts with the Catholic Church, and tampering with the anti-open grazing law, noting that no official authority or church leader had confirmed such claims.

The statement described the petition as nothing more than Waya’s frustration after losing the 2023 election and a desperate bid to stay relevant.

It added that the Catholic Church remains a moral authority and cannot be turned into a tool for political games.