Akpabio Reveals Wife’s Six‑Month Coma Miracle, Urges Peaceful 2027 Election
Senate President Godswill Akpabio said his wife, Unoma, was in a coma for six months in a German hospital after a failed surgery, with doctors declaring her 98 percent dead. He stated that he used a photograph of Italian Catholic priest Padre Pio to make the sign of the cross on her and prayed to Mary and the priest for divine intervention; she subsequently woke up, though it took her three months to regain her memory and recognise family members. Akpabio shared this testimony during a visit to Padre Pio’s prayer ground in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, where he gave thanks for her recovery and prayed for a peaceful 2027 general election and an end to banditry and terrorism in Nigeria.
He explained that the experience led his family to honour the priest by naming their son Pio and establishing the Pio Football Academy, which offers training and scholarships to children from low‑income families aged nine to university level. The academy aims to provide opportunities for underprivileged youth while keeping the priest’s legacy alive.
Akpabio urged Nigerians to join him in praying for the country’s security and political stability ahead of the 2027 elections, asking what role personal faith and community initiatives can play in addressing national challenges.