*Kicks Off Work Towards 2027
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A political support group for Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, the Benue Divine Mandate, has visited Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, Kaduna, donating the sum of N500,000 to the parish in the process.
The body made similar donations to some groups in the church, including the choir.
The occasion in church, on Sunday, September 7, was an elaborate thanksgiving celebration by the church’s Divine Mandate group under the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Joshua Achie.
The parish is renowned among Benue Catholics in Kaduna as the incubation centre where the idea to make Gov. Alia run for the Benue State top seat, was birthed ahead 2023.
Speaking during Sunday’s event, Benue State Commissioner of Land and Survey, Rev. (Dr.) Frederick L. Ikyaan explained that the idea to form the group, Divine Mandate, was conceived in Kaduna before 2023 to support Alia’s governorship ambition.
The Commissioner, who represented Gov. Alia on the occasion, further explained that the phase two of the Mandate’s work has also been inaugurated towards the governor’s re-election in 2027.
He recalled that the body sprung up in Kaduna with a few people initially, expanded and grew in membership to its present size.
Ikyaan said: “Like I did say in church a while ago, this group that has come to Kaduna is properly called Divine Mandate. Like I explained in church, when God wants to do a thing, He moves a few people that conceive and incubate and birth it.
“So when God wanted to bring Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Hyacinth Alia to become Governor, He put it in the minds of a few people. So this is where it all started. It was this very group, started with a few people and as it was growing and expanding, it was accommodating many more.
“But this was the starting point. So they started, went around and mobilized and brought it to the attention of several others. So, Rev. Alia became Governor.
“Now at the second phase of His Excellency’s election, the Divine Mandate thought it wise to come again and propagate the word.”
Rev. Ikyaan emphasized that since indigenes of Benue State are sizeable in population in Kaduna State and so some decided to establish the Mandate ahead the 2023 elections.
“The branch in Kaduna helped to sensitize… You know Alia, you know, is a vision to the Benue indigenes, including those in Kaduna State.
“So that is why we have come again and we have titled this trip now Divine Mandate phase 2. So we came here since Friday. We have done a few activities, inaugurated a new leadership and have charged them to sustain the vision.
“So we have concluded this visit with a Thanksgiving in church here this morning. That is why we are here,” he said.
The Commissioner added that there was no particular preference for St. Peter’s Catholic Church as venue of the thanksgiving ceremony, saying the event could have also held elsewhere in Kaduna.
“For instance, yesterday, Saturday, we had some of our events at the Holy Family; you know, the parish in Barnawa area of Kaduna State, and here today, we’re in Sabon Tasha St. Peter’s Catholic Church.
“Of course, we donated N500,000 to the church and some small donations to some groups in the parish. It’s all in one, the choir was given something. Reverend Father gave out a books. We also made a donation, and to one other group.
“We made a contribution in support of the church project here in the sum of N500,000,” he said.
On whether the event was all about working towards 2027, he responded: “Yes. Like I said, it is Divine Mandate phase two. Its target is to mobilize Benue indigenes in Kaduna State to again launch a campaign, mobilize people to go back home in 2027 and vote the governor for a second term.”
The former Commissioner of Education and Knowledge Management hailed the governor’s virtues, saying he will never disappoint the church as his failure is the church’s failure.
“The church is on trial if a priest is in government leadership”, he emphasized, stressing that members of the public are watching keenly to see if the church will be ridiculed in the end.
Earlier, the Parish Technical Committee Chairman, Chris Santos Njokwu, praised the government and people of Benue State for keeping faith in God despite the relentless bandits’ attacks and killings, and prayed the governor wins reelection “to complete the good works he started.”
On his part, Rev. Fr. Achie also prayed for the governor to win a second term by a landslide, praying too against further terrorists’ attacks on innocent people of Benue State.
PHOTO CAPTION: Some personalities at the event.
