The apex body of traditional rulers in Annang land, Akwa Ibom State, Afe Nkuku Annang, has summoned Mrs. Patience Akpabio, sister-in-law to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and her husband, Ibanga Akpabio, to appear before it within seven days over alleged inciting and defamatory social media posts.
In a communiqué issued on Monday after its meeting at the Ati Annang Secretariat, Ikot Ekpene, the monarchs expressed displeasure over what they described as “malicious and unguarded” statements made by Mrs. Akpabio, accusing the Senate President of being linked to killings in Akwa Ibom during his tenure as governor.
In one of her Facebook posts, Patience Akpabio allegedly 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 communiqué, 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 (Paramount Ruler of Oruk Anam LGA), said the issue had dragged on in the public 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 rulers warned.
The royal body faulted the “vulgar and unguarded” language used by Mrs. Akpabio, stressing that as a woman married into Annang land and into the Akpabio family of Essien Udim, she was expected to uphold dignity and moral values.
“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. Instead, she chose social media taunting and blackmail with apparent intent to malign the character of the Senate President,” the statement read.
The traditional rulers further expressed concern that her posts had dragged the names of both Senator Godswill Akpabio 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 monarchs stated.
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