Hyacinth Alia, the governor of Benue State, has charged that certain religious leaders in the state have incited violence by making unsupported claims.
The governor called the leaders “religious bandits” during his remarks yesterday at Makurdi’s June 12 Democracy Day celebration.
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However, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), stated that maintaining democratic integrity depends on free, fair, and legitimate elections.
Additionally, he asked the federal government to find inclusive answers to issues like insecurity and other national problems and to constructively engage citizens.
Governor Alia claimed that the language of these religious leaders, who frequently make unsubstantiated claims and misrepresent the facts, exacerbates the issue. He called on religious leaders to talk only about what they know and can confirm, stressing the value of responsible discourse.
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He said, “There are some religious leaders I call ‘religious bandits’, who are fuelling the bad situation we are experiencing here. How do they support that? By their rhetorics. If you do not have the facts about Benue and Nigeria, shut up; don’t just say something because you have the holy altar and oil to speak. Speak what you know and what can be verified.”
The Benue state governor urged people to have an optimistic outlook and cooperate for the betterment of Benue and Nigeria as a whole. He emphasised the importance of cooperation, sacrifice, and unity in conquering challenges and establishing enduring peace.
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Okoh while speaking urged the Independent National election Commission (INEC) to improve public trust and election transparency by fortifying electoral procedures and mechanisms.
In his address yesterday in Abuja, the cleric stated that “the rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and press freedom must be upheld” in a true democracy, citing excellent governance as the foundation of all democracies.
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