Akpabio Family Discord Invokes Traditional Injunction

By Patrick Titus, Uyo

Afe Nkuku Annang, an apex traditional stool in Annang land, Akwa Ibom State, has ordered Senator Akpabio’s sister-in-law, Patience Akpabio, and her husband, Ibanga Akpabio, to appear before it within seven day or face disciplinary actions.

Patience Akpabio, a.k.a Pat Akpabio, has recently opened an online media attack against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, linking him to many unresolved killings in Akwa Ibom State, when he was the Governor of the state.

In a Facebook post recently, Pat Akpabio was seen yelling thus: “For all the people you have killed when you were the Governor of Akwa Ibom and those you have killed now that you are in the Senate, it will not be well with you.”

But, the traditional body, in a communique issued at the Ati-Annang Secretariat in Ikot-Ekpene on Monday, expressed deep concern over the matter which it noted had dragged for too long in the social media space.

The communique was signed by HRM Obong Cosmas Okon Akpan, the Paramount Ruler of Essien Udim LGA and President. Akuku (Prof.) Amanam Akpanudo Udo, Paramount Ruler, Etim Ekpo LGA and Vice President Akuku Annang, Engr. (Dr.) J. J. Obosi IV (JP), Paramount Ruler, Oruk Anam LGA
respectively.

The communique read in parts: ”The Afe Nkuku Annang, the apex body of traditional rulers in Annang land, has observed with deep concern, the recent dragging and malicious statements circulating on social media, allegedly made by Mrs. Patience Ibanga Akpabio against the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and a revered son of Annang land, Senator (Dr.) Godswill Obot Akpabio, and more recently, against the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno.

”As custodians of the rich cultural heritage, peace and moral values of Annang land, the Afe Nkuku Annang is constrained to wade into the matter and hereby ordered:

”The Afe Nkuku Annang hereby gives Barr. Ibanga Akpabio, her husband, a seven-day ultimatum to appear before the Afe Nkuku Annang alongside his wife, Mrs Patience Ibanga Akpabio, for clarification and possible cleansing in line with Annang traditional norms and culture, failure of which the Afe shall not hesitate to consider a drastic punitive sanction(s) against Mr. Ibanga Akpabio and his wife, Pat. Ibanga Akpabio”.

The body further condemned the vulgar statement deployed by Patience Akpabio and called for due process and peaceful resolution of the issues.

”The Afe Nkuku Annang strongly condemns the vulgar and unguarded statements attributed to Mrs Patience Ibanga Akpabio, who, being married into Annang land and specifically into the distinguished Akpabio Family of Essien Udim Local Government Area, is expected to uphold the decorum and dignity associated with her marital home and the Annang nation.

”The Forum notes that if Mrs Patience Ibanga Akpabio had any issues of personal or domestic concern, she should have explored appropriate resolutions including reporting to her family, elders and other traditional institutions and, in cases involving criminal allegations, the law enforcement agencies mechanisms

”Rather than pursue these lawful and dignified avenues, she chose to resort to social media taunting and blackmailing with the apparent intent to malign and assassinate the character of the Senate President”, the communique further stated.

The Afe Nkuku Annang also expressed deep concern over the malicious posts and other serious defamation against the Senate President and exonerated the Senate President and the state Governor, Umo Eno from all the allegations made by Patience Akpabio.

It further stated that the Afe Nkuku Annang views these verbal tirades and malicious posts as serious defamation against the person and reputation of both Senator Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno, and therefore takes strong exception to the dragging of these esteemed personalities into public ridicule and disrepute.

”The Forurn hereby exonerates the President of the Senate, H.E. Sen. Godswill Akpabio and H.E. Pst. Umo Eno from all baseless and unfounded accusations made by Mrs Patience Ibanga Akpabio”, it added.

It would be recalled that last week, the traditional institution had visited Mrs Patience Ibanga Akpabio’s maternal home in Ikono Local Government Area of the state where they served palm front, a traditional injunction on the family.

The service in Akwa Ibom traditional setting is usually used to call for a stay of action over any dispute or disagreement pending the final determination of the matter on ground.