By Henry Umoru
Ahead of the 2027 presidential and general elections, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, visited the Prayer Ground of St. Padre Pio at St Giovanni Rotondo in Italy to pray for peaceful 2027 elections and an end to banditry and terrorism in Nigeria.
Answering questions from St. Padre PIO TV/ Radio in Italy, 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.
“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”.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, Akpabio described the ground as a holy one, noting that ” 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.”
To further buttress his belief in the efficacy of the name; PIO, Akpabio disclosed how St PIO interceded for the miraculous healing of his wife, Mrs. Unoma Akpabio, after she was 98 percent dead.
According to him, “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.
“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.
” 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.
“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.”
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