President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has visited the Prayer Ground of St. Padre Pio in St Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, where he offered prayers for an end to banditry and terrorism in Nigeria.
Akpabio also prayed for peaceful 2027 general elections as political activities ahead of the polls continue to gather momentum.
The Senate President made the disclosure while speaking with St. Padre Pio TV/Radio during his visit to the religious site.
He said the visit was not only for his family but also an opportunity to seek divine intervention for Nigeria, particularly as the country continues to face security challenges in several parts.
Akpabio said, “We are all from Nigeria. We came to offer prayers and get blessings from God for ourselves, families and our dear country that is currently being ravaged by banditry and terrorism.”
He added, “We are here on this prayer ground, and we are going home fulfilled, that we were able to touch this Holy ground, drop our intentions, which he will take to God on our behalf”.
The visit comes as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify across the country.
In recent months, the Senate President has repeatedly spoken about insecurity and the need for prayers and concerted efforts to confront those behind violent crimes.
Politics Nigeria recalls in June, Akpabio called for prayers for the exposure of individuals sponsoring terrorism and other violent crimes in the country.
He had also recalled his experience as governor of Akwa Ibom State, saying he introduced monthly prayers during his tenure to confront militancy, kidnapping and killings.
During his latest visit to Italy, Akpabio described the Prayer Ground of St. Padre Pio as a holy place.
He said he was impressed by the way the site had been maintained and explained that his belief in Padre Pio’s intercession was strengthened by his personal experience.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, Akpabio said, “I am very impressed that the place has been well kept. This is a Holy ground. Some people who are here might not even understand the significance of this ground but those of us who are adherents and followers of PIO, believe in his intercessions.”
The Senate President also used the occasion to recount what he described as a major personal experience involving his wife, Unoma Akpabio.
According to him, his wife spent six months in a coma at a hospital in Germany after an operation reportedly went wrong.
Akpabio said she was placed on life support and that her condition was extremely critical at the time.
He recalled how he prayed to Mother Mary and sought the intercession of St. Padre Pio while his wife remained unconscious.
Akpabio said, “My wife was in a coma for six months in a hospital in Germany. She was 98 percent dead. I used the picture of PIO to make a sign of the cross on her, instead of putting off the life- support machine she was on. She had an operation that went wrong. I cried to Mother Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ and called on PIO to intercede.”
He said his wife later regained consciousness.
Akpabio described the recovery as miraculous and said the experience had remained a major reason for his continued devotion to Padre Pio.
He said, “Miraculously, she woke up. That hospital, up to today, is yet to understand what happened. As someone who has experienced the power of where I am standing, I understand it more than anyone else.”
The Senate President further disclosed that the latest visit was his 10th to the Prayer Ground.
He said he returned to give thanks for his wife’s recovery and to continue seeking the intercession of Padre Pio for his family and Nigeria.
Akpabio said his wife spent another three months recovering her memory after she was discharged from the hospital.
He said, “This is my 10th time here. When my wife was finally discharged from the hospital, she waited for three months before she could remember my name and those of the children. We are here today to thank God and PIO for always interceding for us.”
He also revealed that his family honoured Padre Pio by giving their son the saint’s name.
According to him, the family also established the PIO Football Academy in memory of the Catholic saint.
The academy, he said, provides football training and scholarships for children from poor backgrounds, beginning from the age of nine through university level.
Akpabio said, “We honored PIO by giving our son the baptismal name; PIO. We also established a big academy, which we called PIO Football Academy, where we train and offer scholarships to children of the poor from age 9 up to university level, all in memory of PIO. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”
