₦airaland Forum

PRESS STATEMENT

Attack on Peter Obi: FOSAD Appeals to Catholic Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV to Call Benue Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia to Order, Urges Vatican Intervention

The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD) strongly condemns the reported obstruction of the convoy of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, while travelling to Benue State to commiserate with victims and families affected by recent attacks in Yelwata.

FOSAD considers the reported incident deeply troubling, particularly because Obi’s visit, as presented, was intended to express solidarity with communities that have suffered loss of lives and displacement. We therefore appeal to the Catholic Pontiff and the Holy See to take urgent interest in the development and encourage all political actors, particularly the Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, to uphold peace, tolerance, freedom of movement and respect for the dignity of every Nigerian citizen.

Reports indicate that Mr Obi’s convoy was obstructed on the Gboko-Makurdi Federal Highway by a group of youths who allegedly used a trailer to block the road while shouting: “Obi, go back!” during the confrontation.

FOSAD is particularly concerned by allegation that Mr Terver Gbenda, a Senior Special Adviser to Governor Alia on Youth, was present and allegedly led the group involved in the obstruction. He was caught on camera.


Benue State belongs to Nigerians. It is not the private property of any political party, governor or ethnic group. Every Nigerian who travels peacefully and lawfully within the country is entitled to the protection of the Constitution.

FOSAD is therefore deeply concerned by the disruption of Mr Obi’s visit. A presidential candidate travelling to condole with victims of violence should not become the target of political hostility or intimidation. Political disagreements must never be allowed to degenerate into physical confrontation or the mobilization of mobs.

We equally reject any attempt to justify political violence on the basis of party affiliation. The 2027 general election must not become a contest in which political opponents are intimidated, threatened or prevented from moving freely across the country.

Of particular concern to FOSAD are reports of inflammatory statements and alleged threats by political actors in different parts of Nigeria. Where such statements have been made and captured on video or otherwise documented, the relevant security and law-enforcement authorities should investigate them and, where appropriate, prosecute those responsible in accordance with the law.

We commend Peter Obi and his supporters for refraining from retaliatory violence despite the disruption of the visit. Any attempt by supporters of a political candidate to respond violently would only compound the situation and could trigger a dangerous cycle of reprisals.

We also appeal directly to the Pope and the Holy See to take note of the concerns surrounding the conduct of political office holders who are members of the Catholic clergy or hold ecclesiastical identities.

Governor Hyacinth Alia is both a political office holder and a Catholic priest. Because of this dual public identity, his conduct and the conduct of his administration inevitably attract attention beyond the political arena.

FOSAD therefore calls on the Vatican to instruct Father Alia to uphold the fundamental principles of peace, human dignity, non-violence, reconciliation and respect for fellow citizens.

The Forum believes that the teachings of Christianity, and particularly the Catholic tradition of reconciliation and peaceful coexistence, should reinforce rather than weaken Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, FOSAD urges political leaders to embrace tolerance, dialogue and peaceful competition. The responsibility for protecting lives and maintaining security rests primarily with the government and recognized security institutions, not with political mobs or partisan groups.

Signed:

Dr. Stephen Nwala
President
Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD)

Dr. Uzor Ngoladi
Secretary-General
Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD)

www.fosads.org

The behavior of the state governor calls to question his title in the church. A Rev. Father with so much evil, bitterness, vileness and total lack of empathy for his own people. Except what is expected of Rev Fathers has changed.

Nah so

Everybody must get petition against them from Obidients.

No way we should allow these tyrants into the corridor of power.

They will deal with anyone who as much as makes a joke about their cult figure.

By this time next year.... Nigerians go rest from obidients and there krikolis Agulu messiah.

#Happy Sunday.

You see that they did not write to Trump because with their usual Islamisation trope anchored on Christian genocide because the governor is a Reverend Father so they then reported the matter to the Reverend's boss in the Vatican - the Pope .

These people ehn!

Governor Alia is firstly a Nigerian whose loyalty is totally to Nigeria before any religious organization. When he wanted to contest for governor, the same Catholic Church defrocked and disowned him. It was APC and people like President Bola Tinubu that offered him their platform to actualize his political ambition.

So, Peter Obi and his supporters should stop trying to play the religious card in what is strictly a political matter. The attempt to make this matter a religious one should be condemned by all sensible Nigerians. Peter Obi should stop trying to divide our people along religious lines. This has nothing to do with the Catholic Church.

Let those hypocritical people send their letter to FIFA as they are the one in charge of things like this

Ordinary 1/10th of what they have been dishing to others, they are not even interested in taking it

Spits

FSBoperator:
You see that they did not write to Trump because with their usual Islamisation trope anchored on Christian genocide because the governor is a Reverend Father so they then reported the matter to the Reverend's boss in the Vatican - the Pope .
These people ehn!

Very, very unintelligent, uninspiring, parochial, demented, religious and tribal bigotry of a post.

seunmsg:
Governor Alia is firstly a Nigerian whose loyalty is totally to Nigeria before any religious organization. When he wanted to contest for governor, the same Catholic Church defrocked and disowned him. It was APC and people like President Bola Tinubu that offered him their platform to actualize his political ambition.

So, Peter Obi and his supporters should stop trying to play the religious card in what is strictly a political matter. The attempt to make this matter a religious one should be condemned by all sensible Nigerians. Peter Obi should stop trying to divide our people along religious lines. This has nothing to do with the Catholic Church.

But Tinubu can pay 500 mams N3m each to preach Renewed Suffering in Mosques, yet you see nothing wrong in that. Peter Obi that you claimed came a distant 3rd is your nightmare. Is that not wonderful?

Validated:
Very, very unintelligent, uninspiring, parochial, demented, religious and tribal bigotry of a post.

When that your contract seeking Father Mbaka turned his pulpit to be used in castigating GEJ and then later Giringori as VP candidate to Atiku, you and this equally bigoted FOSAD group did not see need to write to the Pope to report Father Mbaka who had abused his collar and pulpit and was engaging in full blown partisan politics ..


Your hypocrisy in that region is just too much.

Validated:
But Tinubu can pay 500 mams N3m each to preach Renewed Suffering in Mosques, yet you see nothing wrong in that. Peter Obi that you claimed came a distant 3rd is your nightmare. Is that not wonderful?

Do you have proof that 500 imams were paid 3 million each to preach support for Tinubu ?

If you are asked now to name every imam among the 500 and how or what means they were paid by Tinubu you go dey claim freedom of speech.

tesseract:
The behavior of the state governor calls to question his title in the church. A Rev. Father with so much evil, bitterness, vileness and total lack of empathy for his own people. Except what is expected of Rev Fathers has changed.

Typical Nonsense from validated frustrated Obidients.

FSBoperator:
Do you have proof that 500 imams were paid 3 million each to preach support for Tinubu ?

If you are asked now to name every imam among the 500 and how or what means they were paid by Tinubu you go dey claim freedom of speech.

Esnbrutality aminda validated it, it was also confirmed by Obidient streetinvestor2 Ofunaofu.

Burob:
Esnbrutality aminda validated it, it was also confirmed by Obidient streetinvestor2 Ofunaofu.

All those wandering spirits you mentioned are the biggest hypocrites and tribalists on this forum.

When it gets too hot for them, they begin crying Tribalism .

FSBoperator:
All those wandering spirits you mentioned are the biggest hypocrites and tribalists on this forum.

When it gets too hot for them, they begin crying Tribalism .

Confirmed, they are the worst amongst the worst.

They should have first appealed to the Pope to call Peter Obi to order for choosing somebody who introduced Sharia law in Kano state to persecute Catholics and other Christians, as his running mate.

seunmsg:
Governor Alia is firstly a Nigerian whose loyalty is totally to Nigeria before any religious organization. When he wanted to contest for governor, the same Catholic Church defrocked and disowned him. It was APC and people like President Bola Tinubu that offered him their platform to actualize his political ambition.

So, Peter Obi and his supporters should stop trying to play the religious card in what is strictly a political matter. The attempt to make this matter a religious one should be condemned by all sensible Nigerians. Peter Obi should stop trying to divide our people along religious lines. This has nothing to do with the Catholic Church.

Continue making mockery of yourself.... No Catholic priest is more Catholic priest than Vatican...

Burob:
Confirmed, they are the worst amongst the worst.

That's why all their projected accusations of tribalism against me doesn't work.

I tell them point blank that I do not expect a bigot like them to see tribalism in others because they ooze tribalism from the deepest recess of their dark souls.

Can anything good come from evil ?

So also is why they will project their own tribalism on others.

I don't know why you guys are busy calling that man a Catholic priest. Does his actions show that he is a man of God?

FSBoperator:
That's why all their projected accusations of tribalism against me doesn't work.

I tell them point blank that I do not expect a bigot like them to see tribalism in others because they ooze tribalism from the deepest recess of their dark souls.

Can anything good come from evil ?

So also is why they will project their own tribalism on others.

Na laugh me I dey laugh them children in their illusion to be pursued but never attained, due to the fact that their messiah Gringory Obi will never occupy Aso Rock as president.

Xscape1993:
I don't know why you guys are busy calling that man a catholic priest. Does his actions show that he is a man of God?

I beg u, no mind Pope John Paul .

Xscape1993:
I don't know why you guys are busy calling that man a catholic priest. Does his actions show that he is a man of God?

Ok he is no longer a Catholic priest because he drove your Agulu fraudster from his state .

floss:
Continue making mockery of yourself.... No Catholic priest is more Catholic priest than Vatican...

So what do you want the pope to do ?

Excommunicate him from the church or what exactly ?

floss:
Continue making mockery of yourself.... No Catholic priest is more Catholic priest than Vatican...

Alia is no longer a Catholic priest.

seunmsg:
Alia is no longer a Catholic priest.

Wow, and he told you this I guess

floss:
Wow, and he told you this I guess

So now you want the pope to excommunicate him because Giringori was prevented by the youths of Benue from coming to their state

floss:
Wow, and he told you this I guess

The Catholic Church made that decision in 2022.

seunmsg:
The Catholic Church made that decision in 2022.

All these hungry tulumbu laptop boys, so in your mind you're making sense.... I hope you won't cry foul tomorrow when Vatican acts....no priest is more Catholic than Vatican...

He is still a Roman Catholic priest,

Waste of time.

floss:
All these hungry tulumbu laptop boys, so in your mind you're making sense.... I hope you won't cry foul tomorrow when Vatican acts....no priest is more Catholic than Vatican...

He is still a Roman Catholic priest,

Maybe it was Tulumbu laptop boys that suspended him.

chiiraq802:
By this time next year.... Nigerians go rest from obidients and there krikolis Agulu messiah.

#Happy Sunday.

Una talk say Peter obi go fade away after 2023 mandate theft BUT TILL TODAY 4 years later una still dey hope and pray that Peter Obi's influence go die so una go fit rest