Senate President, Godswill Akpabio
The Annang women of Akwa Ibom State have issued a stern directive to Mrs. Patience Ibanga Akpabio, urging her to tender an unreserved apology to her brother-in-law, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, over what they described as “unfounded and damaging” murder allegations.
In a statement jointly signed by Uduak Essien (Canada) and Mary Enang (United Kingdom), President and Secretary of the Annang Women Advocacy Network International (AWANI), the group condemned Patience Akpabio’s actions, warning that failure to apologise could result in her being ostracised according to Annang custom.
“AWANI will not stand by while you, for reasons best known to you, attempt to tarnish the image of our community, its values, and one of our most illustrious sons,” the statement read. “We therefore issue this solemn warning: withdraw your venomous allegations before it’s too late.”
The women further cautioned that if Mrs. Akpabio refused to retract her statements, the group would invoke ‘ngwo ntie’—a traditional women’s sanction in Annang culture used against those who “anger the land.”
“If invoked,” they warned, “this ancient practice renders the land unfruitful for the offender, preventing them from sowing, reaping, or benefiting from the blessings of Annang land until restitution is made.”
The statement also described Patience Akpabio’s social media outbursts as “a sin against God and man,” stressing that publicly maligning a brother-in-law, husband, or one’s own family members was contrary to both Christian and Annang moral codes.
“As mothers, wives, and daughters, we are deeply pained that a woman would lead a campaign of scandal against a man who stands as an elder of our land—against her husband, and by extension, her own children and grandchildren,” the group stated.
“Your actions are a direct affront to the respect and decency that define Annang womanhood. It is distressing to witness such public desecration of our values,” they added.
Concluding, the group advised Patience Akpabio to retrace her steps and make peace:
“Let this be the final word from the mothers and daughters of Annang land. Heed this warning and make amends before it is too late.”
