President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio
By Anietie Akpan
Women of Annang land, one of the dominant ethnic group in Akwa Ibom State, have threatened to ostracize Mrs. Patience Ibanga Akpabio over what they described as her campaign of calumny against her brother-in-law, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, President of the Nigerian 10th Senate.
The threat, issued under the auspices of Annang Women Advocacy Network International (AWANI), is contained in a statement jointly signed by the President, Uduak Essien (Canada), and Secretary, Mary Enang (United Kingdom).
Berating Mrs. Patience Akpabio for accusing the Senate President of murder without providing proof, the mothers and daughters of Annang land at home and abroad said in the statement dated 22nd October, 2025: “Annang Women Advocacy Network will not stand idly by while you, for reasons known only to you, attempt to pull down our community, its values and our illustrious son. We therefore issue this solemn warning: Desist immediately from your abominable acts. Withdraw your venomous allegations, before it’s too late.”
They further told her: “Stop, before the fight you cannot win consumes you completely. We are watching and ready to institute “ngwo ntie” against you as is our Annang custom and age long traditional practice by women for women that angered the land.
“Annang land will cease to be fruitful for you. You cannot sow or reap positively from Annang land. You cannot benefit in any way from Annang and her people. You cannot conduct business with us anywhere in the world. You cannot buy or sell in our markets. You cannot relate in peace, profit from and acquire wealth from Annang women, daughters and children including your children born of Annang son. You would be ostracized.”
AWANI described Mrs. Patience Akpabio’s social media posts against Senator Akpabio as a sin against both God and man. According to the group, “To insult and disgrace your brother in-law, your husband, children, grandchildren and posterity in the manner you are doing is to bring upon yourself the wrath of both God and man, and you have done so with a reckless tongue that knows no fear for God and man. You are dancing naked in the market square.
As mothers, wives and daughters, we are deeply aggrieved that a wife would become the mouthpiece for scandal against a man who sits as an elder of our land, against her husband, against her own children and children’s children.
“Your actions are a direct affront to the respect and decorum we hold sacred in Annang land. It is therefore disturbing and shameful to witness such public desecration of dignity and decency from you.”
Noting that “life and death are in the power of the tongue,” AWANI told Mrs. Patience Akpabio: “You have chosen to speak death—falsehood —abomination upon the name and reputation of our son and brother, Senator Obot Akpabio, the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his wife. This is not just a political misstep; it is a spiritual transgression. Your words, born of malice and deceit, seek to burn down a legacy built over decades, but will end up destroying you and those that support this abomination against Annang land and Akwa Ibom State. Our land condemns this abomination. Our ancestors condemn it, our elders, youths, women and posterity condemn your actions.”
AWANI warned Mrs. Patience Akpabio to immediately end her treacherous campaign against Senator Akpabio and apologize immediately or prepare to face dire consequences. “Let this be the final word from the mothers and daughters of Annang land. Heed this warning and retrace your steps. Make amends,” the group said.
