Senate President Godswill Akpabio has disclosed that he travelled to Italy for a spiritual pilgrimage, where he prayed for an end to insecurity, banditry and terrorism in Nigeria.
Akpabio made the disclosure during a visit to the Prayer Ground of St. Padre Pio in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, where he said he and members of his delegation sought blessings for Nigeria, their families and the country’s leaders.
Speaking to St. Padre Pio TV/Radio, the Senate President said the delegation had travelled to the religious site because of its significance to followers of the Catholic saint.
“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,” Akpabio said.
He said his prayers included a request for an end to insecurity, banditry and terrorism across Nigeria.
Akpabio also said he prayed for President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council and Nigerians generally.
The Senate President described the visit as a short pilgrimage and said he was fulfilled after visiting what he considers holy ground.
He also prayed for the peaceful conduct of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, making the election another focus of his visit to the shrine.
Akpabio disclosed that the visit was his 10th trip to the St. Padre Pio prayer ground, explaining that his devotion to the saint was connected to his family’s personal experience.
He recounted that his wife, Unoma Akpabio, had spent several months in a coma in a hospital in Germany. Akpabio said he prayed through the intercession of Padre Pio and attributed her eventual recovery to divine intervention.
According to the Senate President, his wife spent another three months after leaving the hospital before she could fully remember his name and those of their children.
Akpabio said his family later honoured the saint by giving one of their sons the baptismal name Pio.
He also disclosed that the family established the Pio Football Academy, which he said provides football training and scholarships to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, from the age of nine through university level.
The Senate President’s visit comes as Nigeria continues to face security challenges involving terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime, while political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections are also increasing.
Akpabio said the delegation returned from the prayer ground after seeking blessings for themselves, their families and Nigeria.
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