Traditional rulers in Annang land, Akwa Ibom State, have summoned Mrs Patience Akpabio, sister-in-law to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and her husband, Ibanga Akpabio, to appear before them within seven days.
The decision followed what the royal fathers described as a series of offensive and false social-media posts in which Mrs Patience Akpabio allegedly accused the Senate President of being responsible for killings in the state during his tenure as governor.
The directive was issued in a communiqué released on Monday after a meeting of the Afe Nkuku Annang, the umbrella body of Annang traditional rulers, held at the Ati Annang Secretariat in Ikot Ekpene.
According to the statement signed by HRM Obong Cosmas Okon Akpan (President and Paramount Ruler of Essien Udim), Prof. Amanam Akpanudo Udo (Vice President and Paramount Ruler of Etim Ekpo), and Engr. Dr. J. J. Obosi IV (JP) (Paramount Ruler of Oruk Anam), the royal forum said the online dispute had dragged on too long and needed to be resolved using Annang customs.
“Barrister Ibanga Akpabio and his wife, Mrs Patience Ibanga Akpabio, are hereby given seven days to appear before the Afe Nkuku Annang for clarification and possible cleansing in line with Annang traditions. Failure to comply will attract serious traditional sanctions,” the communiqué warned.
The monarchs condemned what they called the “vulgar and disrespectful language” used by Mrs Akpabio in her posts, insisting that as a woman married into the Annang community, and particularly into the respected Akpabio family. The chiefs said that by tradition, she was expected to protect the honour of her husband’s people.
They advised that if she had any grievances, she should have approached her relatives, community elders, or relevant security agencies instead of resorting to “social-media blackmail and name-calling.”
“Rather than follow due process, she chose to use social media to spread malicious messages apparently meant to damage the image of the Senate President,” the monarchs stated.
The Afe Nkuku Annang also expressed concern that ...s had tarnished not only Senator Akpabio’s reputation but also that of Governor Umo Eno, stressing that both men were innocent of the claims circulating online.
“The Forum exonerates Senator Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno from all baseless and unfounded allegations made by Mrs Patience Ibanga Akpabio,” the group concluded.
Attempts to contact Mrs. Patience Akpabio and her husband for their response were unsuccessful, as several calls to their phone numbers went unanswered during the time of this report