Ubong Akpanim Urges Wives of Politicians to Break Silence, Hold Leaders Accountable

Ubong Akpanim Urges Wives of Politicians to Break Silence, Hold Leaders Accountable

By Solomon OKPO | September 11, 2025.

A concerned Akwa Ibom citizen, Ubong Akpanim, has issued a strong call to the wives of politicians, urging them to stop being silent spectators in the face of worsening poverty, misgovernance, and failed leadership across the state.

In a passionate statement titled “Silence is Betrayal”, Akpanim argued that the women closest to political leaders bear a moral duty to remind their husbands of the realities faced by ordinary citizens. He stressed that while politicians enjoy the comfort of power, privilege, and wealth, many communities remain trapped in hunger, unemployment, and neglect.

“Wives, you are closer to these men than anyone else,” he said. “You eat with them, sleep with them, and bear their children. Do not just smile and enjoy the wealth that flows into your home while your neighbors’ children starve. Ask him the hard questions: What policies have you enacted for your people? What projects stand as evidence of your service? What future are you preparing for the people?”

Akpanim cautioned that silence from politicians’ spouses amounts to complicity, warning that the consequences of today’s failures in governance will eventually touch every family, including those of the ruling elite.

“When the storm comes—and it will come, it will not spare your family. The same hunger, anger, and insecurity you ignore today will eventually reach your doorstep. Your children will not be shielded by bodyguards forever,” he warned.

He further emphasized that what is at stake goes beyond politics, describing it as a matter of justice that will ultimately consume all who stood by while the people suffered.

“The time of silent complicity is over. If you are truly a mother, a wife, and a citizen, then let your husband hear the cries of the people through your voice. Silence now is an endorsement of evil, and history will judge not only the politician, but also the wife who failed to speak truth in the quiet moments of intimacy,” Akpanim declared.

The statement has stirred conversations across Akwa Ibom, particularly on the role of women in influencing leadership and governance through their proximity to power.