Senate President Godswill Akpabio has recounted the difficult period when his wife, Unoma, spent six months in a coma in a German hospital, saying he turned to prayer and the intercession of St Padre Pio during the ordeal.
Akpabio shared the experience while speaking with St Padre Pio TV/Radio during a visit to the Prayer Ground of St Padre Pio in St Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, the Senate President visited the religious site to offer prayers for Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reflecting on his family’s experience, Akpabio said his wife was placed on life support after an operation went wrong. He described her condition at the time as critical, saying he feared she would not survive.
He said he prayed to the Virgin Mary and sought the intercession of Padre Pio, whom he credited with helping his wife regain consciousness.
“My wife was in a coma for six months in a hospital in Germany. She was 98 per cent dead,” Akpabio said.
He recalled using a picture of Padre Pio to make the sign of the cross over his wife while she remained on life support.
According to him, his wife eventually regained consciousness, an outcome he described as miraculous.
Akpabio said her recovery was gradual even after she left the hospital, noting that she reportedly spent another three months before she could remember his name and those of their children.
He disclosed that his visit to the prayer ground was his 10th and that he had returned to express gratitude for his wife’s recovery.
The Senate President also said his family had maintained a connection with Padre Pio’s legacy, revealing that one of their sons was given the baptismal name Pio.
He added that the family established the Pio Football Academy, where children from disadvantaged backgrounds receive training and scholarships.
Beyond his personal experience, Akpabio said he and other Nigerians visited the Italian prayer ground to seek divine intervention for the country.
He particularly prayed for an end to banditry and terrorism, describing insecurity as one of the major challenges facing Nigeria.
“We came to offer prayers and get blessings from God for ourselves, our families and our dear country that is currently being ravaged by banditry and terrorism,” he said.
Akpabio described the site as a holy ground and said his personal experience had strengthened his faith in the intercession of Padre Pio.
He said the delegation was leaving the site fulfilled after offering prayers for themselves, their families and Nigeria.
The visit comes as political activities and preparations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with security remaining a prominent national concern.
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