Attack On Senator Akpabio: Family Excommunicates Sister-In-Law

By Adesina Soyooye

The larger family of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has stripped his sister-in-law, Mrs Patience Ibanga Akpabio of all privileges accorded a wife.

The family, after a meeting, excommunicated her from the family.

Her fate is a product of the very serious and scandalous allegations she publicly made against Senator Akpabio which went viral on social media.

She made the allegations which include murder, corruption and infidelity in his marriage via a post on her Facebook page.

The Akpabio larger family accused her of engaging in “satanic behaviours”.

The decision to excommunicate her was reached on Monday, October 27, after a meeting in Ukana Ikot Ntuen in Essien Udim Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. The Akpabio Family said the decision to  excommunicate her follows what it called  her “satanic conduct, disparaging comments and unwholesome remarks against the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, his wife, Dr (Mrs) Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, and other members of the family.”

The outcome of the meeting was made public at a press briefing the family held on Monday at Afe Akuku Udo Akpabio, its  ancestral meeting ground in Ukana.

The press conference was led by the Family Head, Chief Ekom Akpabio. He was the one  who spoke on behalf of other senior family members present.

Addressing the Media, the Chief explained that the only choice left for the  family was to take a firm stans after Mrs Patience Ibanga Akpabio continous “ridicule of the family in public” even earlier a traditional injunction warned her to stop making further disparaging statements about the Senate President, his wife, or any member of the Greater Akpabio Family.

Said the Chief: “Regrettably and most unfortunately, she has continued in her tirade, thus ignoring the injunction by the family. This, in itself, has brought the family to public ridicule and shame and is suggestive of a family unable to manage and control its members. This has never happened and should not have happened in the first instance.”

The Akpabio family said it was disappointment that even after assurances from her husband, Barr. Ibanga Akpabio, that she would refrain from such actions, the woman continued her “aspersions and insults” directed at the Senate President, his wife, and the entire Greater Akpabio Family.

“The Greater Akpabio Family has well-known norms of respect, unity, and age-long channels to address grievances. That these norms and channels were ignored is regrettable. Such acts are destructive and an affront to our collective survival and development, while also being repulsive to family and human dignity.”

The Family reaffirmed its unity and commitment to discipline, and  declared that no act capable of bringing its name into disrepute or public opprobrium will be tolerated.

“We strongly denounce the unwarranted and repeated attacks on our esteemed son and pride of our family, President of the Senate, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON. We are immensely proud of his exemplary representation of our family and senatorial district, and his remarkable achievements as the President of the Senate.”

As a consequence, the Greater Akpabio Family announced a public disclaimer on Mrs Patience Ibanga Akpabio, and declared that she “no longer represents nor is recognised as a wife, representative, or member of the family, and therefore stands excommunicated.

“The family hereby warns all members of the public to desist from any dealings with Mrs Patience Ibanga Akpabio as a member of our Greater Akpabio Family. It is sad that she has pushed us to this line of action by her untoward and satanic actions.”

But the family said it remained open to reconciliation if she showed genuine remorse.

“In the event that she has any genuine grievances, apologies or regrets, we request that she reports such to the family hierarchy for a review of our position in line with our customs and traditions.”

Long before this development, Mrs Akpabio was summoned by the apex body of traditional rulers in Annang land, Akwa Ibom State, the Afe Nkuku Annang. She was served a 7-day notice to appear before the body alongside her husband.

But in a recent Facebook post, she 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.”