By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Uyo
The forum of Paramount Rulers in Annang land, Afe Nkuku Annang, has waded into a growing feud within the family of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, summoning his brother, Ibanga Akpabio, and sister-in-law, Patience Akpabio, over social media posts accusing the nation’s number three citizen of alleged murder cases in Akwa Ibom State.
The traditional rulers, who described the allegations as “malicious and defamatory,” issued a seven-day ultimatum to the couple to appear before them for clarification and cleansing in accordance with Annang customs or face sanctions.
In a communique issued at the Ati-Annang Secretariat in Ikot Ekpene and signed by HRM Obong Cosmas Okon Akpan, Paramount Ruler of Essien Udim and President of Afe Nkuku Annang; Prof. Amanam Akpanudo Udo, Paramount Ruler of Etim Ekpo and Vice President; and Engr. (Dr.) J.J. Obosi IV (JP), Paramount Ruler of Oruk Anam, the forum condemned the social media posts as “vulgar, unguarded, and unbecoming of a woman married into the Akpabio family.”
The monarchs said Mrs. Patience Akpabio’s viral Facebook post—where she accused the Senate President of being responsible for killings during and after his tenure as governor—was an affront to the cultural and moral values of the Annang people.
“The Afe Nkuku Annang hereby gives Barr. Ibanga Akpabio and his wife, Mrs. Patience Ibanga Akpabio, seven days to appear before it for clarification and possible cleansing, failure of which the Afe shall not hesitate to consider drastic punitive sanctions,” the communique stated.
The royal fathers also exonerated Senator Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno from what they described as “baseless and unfounded allegations,” stressing that such defamatory statements could bring the Annang nation to 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 statement added.