The apex body of traditional rulers in Annang land, Akwa Ibom State, the Afe Nkuku Annang, has summoned Mrs. Patience Akpabio, sister-in-law to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and her husband, Ibanga Akpabio, to appear before it within seven days over alleged defamatory and inciting social media posts against the Senate President.
In a communique issued on Monday after its meeting at the Ati Annang Secretariat, Ikot Ekpene, the monarchs expressed deep concern over the “malicious and unguarded” statements allegedly made by Mrs. Akpabio, accusing the Senate President of being linked to multiple killings in Akwa Ibom State during his tenure as governor.
In one of her recent Facebook posts, Patience Akpabio wrote, “For all the people you people have killed when you were governor of Akwa Ibom, and those you people have killed now that you are in the Senate, it will not be well with you.”
The Afe Nkuku Annang, in its communique signed by HRM Obong Cosmas Okon Akpan (Paramount Ruler of Essien Udim LGA and President), Akuku (Prof.) Amanam Akpanudo Udo (Paramount Ruler of Etim Ekpo and Vice President), and Engr. (Dr.) J.J. Obosi IV (JP) (Paramount Ruler of Oruk Anam LGA), said the matter had lingered for too long in the social media space and must now be addressed in line with Annang tradition.
“The Afe Nkuku Annang hereby gives Barrister Ibanga Akpabio and his wife, Mrs. Patience Ibanga Akpabio, a seven-day ultimatum to appear before the Afe Nkuku Annang for clarification and possible cleansing in accordance with Annang traditional norms and culture. Failure to do so will attract drastic punitive sanctions,” the monarchs stated.
The royal body condemned what it described as the “vulgar and unguarded” language employed by Mrs. Akpabio, noting that as a woman married into Annang land — and specifically into the distinguished Akpabio family of Essien Udim — she was expected to uphold the dignity and moral values of her marital home and community.
“If Mrs. Patience Ibanga Akpabio had any personal or domestic grievances, she should have explored appropriate channels of resolution, including reporting to her family, elders, or relevant law enforcement agencies,” the statement read.
“Rather than pursue these lawful and dignified avenues, she chose to resort to social media taunting and blackmail with apparent intent to malign and assassinate the character of the Senate President.”
The traditional rulers also expressed concern over the defamatory posts, which they said had dragged the names of the Senate President and Governor Umo Eno into public ridicule.
“The Afe Nkuku Annang views these malicious posts as serious defamation against the person and reputation of both Senator Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno. The Forum hereby exonerates both leaders from all baseless and unfounded accusations made by Mrs. Patience Ibanga Akpabio,” the statement concluded.
Attempts to contact Mrs Akpabio and her husband, Ibanga, proved abortive as their mobile lines were unreachable at the time of filing this report.