Senate President Godswill Akpabio says he used a recent pilgrimage in Italy to pray for Nigeria's leaders, an end to terrorism and banditry, and peaceful elections in 2027.
Nigeria's Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has explained that his recent trip to Italy included a spiritual pilgrimage during which he prayed for Nigeria and sought divine intervention over the country's persistent security challenges.
Akpabio said his prayers covered President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the National Assembly and Federal Executive Council, as well as Nigerians generally.
The Senate President specifically identified insecurity, terrorism and banditry among the problems for which he sought divine intervention.
His comments, which circulated widely in a video, followed his visit to the prayer ground associated with Catholic saint Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, southern Italy.
Akpabio explains spiritual purpose of Italy trip
Speaking about the journey, Akpabio described it as a short pilgrimage motivated by his Christian faith.
He explained that he travelled to Italy and visited a site associated with Padre Pio, where he offered prayers and supplications for Nigeria.
Akpabio said he prayed for Tinubu, Shettima, lawmakers, members of the Federal Executive Council and himself, but stressed that his prayers extended to the entire country.
According to him, one of his major intentions was for Nigeria to overcome insecurity, particularly terrorism and banditry.
Akpabio linked the decision to his religious conviction that government and security efforts should be accompanied by prayer and divine protection.
The Senate President also said his delegation went to the pilgrimage site to seek blessings for their families and Nigeria.
Prayer for peaceful 2027 elections
Beyond insecurity, Akpabio also prayed for peaceful general elections in Nigeria in 2027.
Reports of the pilgrimage indicate that he described Nigeria as being affected by terrorism and banditry while speaking to St Padre Pio TV/Radio during the visit.
He expressed satisfaction after visiting the prayer ground and said members of the delegation had presented their intentions and prayers.
The additional detail about the 2027 elections is significant because it was not prominent in every report about Akpabio's comments. Accounts from The Guardian and Premium Times, however, both reported that peaceful elections formed part of the intentions presented during the visit.
Rome reference requires clarification
Several reports and social media posts described Akpabio as saying he travelled to Rome to pray for Nigeria.
The specific Padre Pio pilgrimage site identified in more detailed accounts, however, is located in San Giovanni Rotondo, a town in Italy's Apulia region rather than Rome.
Akpabio referred broadly to Italy and Rome while discussing the religious significance of his journey, but reports detailing the pilgrimage identified San Giovanni Rotondo as the location where he and his delegation visited the Padre Pio prayer ground.
The distinction is useful because headlines describing the entire prayer visit as taking place in Rome could leave readers with an inaccurate impression about the location of the shrine.
Akpabio recounts wife's recovery
The Senate President also revealed a personal reason for his longstanding devotion to Padre Pio.
Akpabio said his wife, Unoma, once spent six months in a coma at a hospital in Germany following complications from an operation.
According to his account, his wife was in an extremely critical condition and dependent on life support. He said he prayed to God while seeking the intercession of the Virgin Mary and Padre Pio.
Akpabio attributed his wife's eventual recovery to divine intervention.
He further said that after she regained consciousness and was discharged from hospital, it took several months before she could remember his name and recognise members of their family.
The Senate President did not disclose when the medical episode occurred or provide details about the illness or operation involved. His description of the recovery as miraculous represents his personal religious testimony rather than an independently established medical conclusion.
Akpabio said the experience strengthened his family's connection to Padre Pio.
He also disclosed that one of his sons was given Pio as a baptismal name and that his family established a football academy named after the Catholic saint. According to Akpabio, the academy provides training and educational opportunities to children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Visit comes amid continuing security concerns
Akpabio's prayers against terrorism and banditry come as Nigeria continues to contend with multiple forms of violent insecurity.
Terrorist organisations have remained active particularly in parts of northeastern Nigeria, while armed groups commonly described as bandits have carried out kidnappings and attacks in parts of the North-West and North-Central regions.
Communities elsewhere in the country have also faced kidnapping, communal violence and other security threats.
Akpabio presented his pilgrimage as a religious complement to efforts aimed at addressing those challenges rather than detailing a new government security policy during the remarks.
His statements about the journey have subsequently circulated widely online, placing renewed attention on the relationship between religious faith and the practical responsibilities of political institutions in responding to Nigeria's security problems.
The Senate President maintained that his actions were rooted in his Christian beliefs, saying he considered divine protection important alongside human efforts to safeguard the country.
With Nigeria approaching another general election cycle and security remaining a major national concern, Akpabio's pilgrimage brought together two issues likely to remain prominent in public discussion: the country's security situation and preparations for the 2027 elections.
