Unable to contend with the jeopardy posed to road users over the years, former 2nd Vice-President of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Barrister Monday Ubani has resorted to drawing the attention of President Mohammadu Buhari’s led administration to the dilapidated condition of the popular Ikwuano/Ikot Ekpene Federal road, in Abia State.
Barr. Ubani who is the current Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL (Section of Public Interest and Development Law), expressed utter acrimony towards the obvious neglect of the federal road and consequently has vowed to write to President Muhammadu Buhari over the alleged 13 billion naira contract for the rehabilitation of the road in 2019.
Barr. Ubani who lamented that the road had been in shambles over the years, regretted that the federal government had shown little or no concern towards rehabilitating the road, as he wondered the why of the abandonment, since the year 2019.
Barrister Ubani disclosed his intentions while featuring in TVC morning programme of Friday September 3rd, 2021, as he, amidst dismay, pointed out that the road failed as a result of a poor job done by the previous contractors.
Ubani added that previous federal government administrations of Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan had awarded contracts on the same road and still, there is nothing to show.
He maintained that it is a criminal offense for any government to award a contract when there is no money to execute the project. He expressed sadness that the federal government will be boosting of developing the southern part of Nigeria, when there is nothing to show on Ikwuano Ikot Ekpene federal road.
The human rights lawyer posited that the said road is in a sorry state and calls for action considering the huge amount committed to get the road done.
Speaking on the sacking of two Ministers, Minister of Agriculture, Sabo Nanono, and his counterpart in the power ministry, Saleh Mamman, Ubani lamented that most of the Minister’s do not have structural plan on what to achieve, hence, there is need for Mr President should carry periodic examination to ascertain the progress they have made so far to enable others sit up.
Meanwhile, a source who Soo on anonymity blamed poor situation on the Federal late representing the Constituents, as well as the Senator representing Abia Central, stressing that the duo “have questions to answer”.
His words:
“I support this move by Bar Ubani. What i don’t agree with him is that the federal government doesn’t have money to carry out the contract because i believe there is more to it. The federal law makers from Ikwuano Umuahia and the senator representing Abia central has questions to answer concerning the road because its directly under there immediate catchment areas, so goes to the there counterpart from Ikot Ekpene federal constituency and the senator representing the zone in upper chamber.”
