‘Alia is our brother in vineyard’: Bishops tackle colleagues over calls for emergency rule in Benue

The Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Benue State chapter, has rejected calls by some of their colleagues for the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

The State Overseer of the conference, Archbishop Alexander Nyoonkyegh, made this known in a statement on Saturday, July 7, 2025.

The bishops stated that Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia is their brother in the vineyard and must be protected by men of God.

Some bishops had earlier called for an emergency rule in Benue State over growing insecurity in the state.

But Nyoonkyegh said Benue State does not need emergency rule but a united front to confront the “common enemy”.

He said: “What we need now in Benue is unity and support for the governor to succeed. Let us help him to succeed because he is heading in the right direction.

“We cannot continue to talk about military takeover or emergency rule in Benue. We are not even sure that a Benue son will be appointed as the sole administrator.

“Look at what happened in Rivers. A sole administrator was appointed for Rivers who is from another state.”

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Nyoonkyegh noted that the Bible admonished Christians to be submissive to authorities, adding that only God gives authority to people.

Nyoonkyegh stated: “Fr Alia is our brother in the vineyard, and we will continue to pray for him to succeed. What we know is that there is no authority that is not given from God.

“And the Bible says we must be submissive to the authorities. Yes, we are prophets, but we are submissive to the authorities here on earth too.

0What we need here is development, and the governor is developing the state, so what else can we ask for?

“Apart from issues of insecurity, which he is trying, and we are seeing some of his efforts, what fundamental offence has he committed?”

Nyoonkyegh further commended President Bola Tinubu for continually standing with the people of Benue State and directing the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, to relocate to the state and address the growing insecurity.

“Since his (Oluyede) arrival, we have not heard of any further attack on our people. Let the peace be maintained,” the cleric added.

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