Dr Monday Ubani 


.....Shame to pseudo Evangelist, Rabble-rousers




By Tony Icheku 

Finally on Friday, October 24, 2025 Abia State Governor Alex Otti will usher in relief and joyous celebration for communities along the 25 kilometres stretch of Ikot Ekpene-Ikwuano-Umuahia. On that day he would officially flag off the reconstruction of the 25-kilometre road which though  a Federal road, the governor has secured necessary approvals and overcame internal sabotage mounted by certain pseudo Evangelist and other rabble-rousers you who ironically shared the sufferings and pains experienced on that road since nine years ago when the contract for its rehabilitation was awarded to Hartland Company Limited 


It needs affirming here that Gov Otti since coming to office having displayed efficiency, business-like and down-to-earth approach to governance, the people of Ikwuano/Umuahia North LGAs are confident that what Gov Otti has begun, he will complete.


 Remarkably, Gov Otti shouldered aside stiff opposition to get to this point as  certain individuals from Abia State attempted to hinder the approval process.


According to Gov Otti,  "Unfortunately, some individuals from our own state tried to frustrate the approval process, which truly calls their patriotism into question. Thankfully, we have overcome those challenges, and the project will be officially flagged off." 


"By next Friday, 24th October, we will be flagging off the 25-kilometre Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road project. Although it is a Federal road, we obtained the necessary approval to reconstruct it," Otti stated.


The governor asked the individuals whom he described as highly placed a rhetorical  question: "...you don’t want the road that passes through your father’s house to be built? And you call yourself a patriotic leader?” 


Though the governor  diplomatically refrained from mentioning names, Ikwuano people know the exact persons referred to. 


The contract  for Ikot Ekpene-Ikwuano-Umuahia Road was  awarded to Messrs Hartland Nigeria Limited/ Raycon and Company Nigeria Limited for the sum of thirteen point two billion naira (N13,296,283,958.68) on May 2019, but from that period to the present the work has preceded in fits and starts, sometimes coming to absolute standstill.


Perhaps if not for the intervention of Dr Monday Ubani, SAN the road would have ended up as another abandoned Federal Government project.


Dr.  Ubani, then as 2nd National Vice chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) first in October  2021 wrote  to then President Muhammadu Buhari on the abandonment of the dilapidated Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road after a widely reported award of N13, 296,283,958.68 contracts for its  re-construction and rehabilitation of Umuahia/Ikwuano/Ikot-Ekpene Road by the Federal Ministry of Works.


In the  letter dated October 1, 2021, and addressed to Buhari, Ubani, lamented that people had suffered enough concerning the sorry condition of the road.


Dr Ubani's letter came on the heels of protests by students of Michael Okpara University, Umudike, in Abia State, asking the government to repair the deplorable federal road which they  linked to the death of a 500-level student of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the institution, Miss Chidinma Ogbonna, who was killed instantly after being hit by a trailer driver along the highway 


He stated:  “Despite our joy for the award, some of us raised an initial alarm concerning the contract because of lack of specifics in the disclosure about the terms of the contract. Does the contract include construction, dualization, or just mere rehabilitation? That narrow road constructed during the colonial era now links Abia to Akwa Ibom and Cross River State down to Cameroon in West Africa and is used frequently by big trucks and other users for their commercial engagements”.


He queried “Why will such an important road be left without dualization and proper reconstruction that has a good drainage system? How competent is the contractor that is handling the contract for the construction of the Umuahia (Ikwuano)/Ikot Ekpene Road axis? The level and quality of work so far done on the Ikwuano leaves a sour taste in the mouth.


A copy of the letter was forwarded to then Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; then  Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; then Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial district, T. A Orji; Hon Sam Onuigbo, the member House of Representatives representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency and the Director in Charge of the road, Ministry of Works and Housing.


“The little drainage work done at some of the places in Oboro area of the contract does not show that there is any good intention to do a thorough work that will surely stand the test of time and beneficial to the users of the road. The quality is not only below standard, but it is also utterly poor.”.


He appealed to President Buhari to cause the release of funds for the continuation of the work of the contract on the said road and ensure maximum supervision of the quality of work that is being carried out on that road that has socio-economic advantages to the entire nation.


According to Ubani, “We believe that your government will not join other governments that failed to fix this very important road that is critical to the survival of the indigenes of Ikwuano in Abia State.


“Your Excellency, we are shocked at this report of “No Fund Release”. The question will be why would a contract of such importance and magnitude be awarded with no intention to complete the project especially when the objective of the award was made known to the whole world?


“Now as I put down this piece to you sir, the road is in the worst condition ever, the people are suffering daily commuting on that road. A journey of about 30 minutes now lasts about 3 hours due to the terrible and unacceptable condition of the road. Our joy has turned to sorrow as the people are daily subjected to the gravest level of suffering while going or returning from their daily work. The objective of providing motorable roads for the economic activities of the people has been defeated by the current turn of events


Dr.  Ubani did not relent as the Buhari era failed to do the needful. He followed up by writing another  open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging his urgent intervention in the long-abandoned road.


In the letter dated April 7, 2025, Dr. Ubani lamented the continuous neglect of the road, describing it as a “death trap” and a major hindrance to economic and social activities in the region.


Dr. Ubani recounted multiple visits to the project’s contractor, Hartland Construction Company, who gave varying excuses including funding constraints and weather conditions.


“After the rainy season of last year, they promised full resumption of work, but the pace not only slowed, it eventually halted,” he wrote.


Highlighting the strategic importance of the road as a critical link between Abia, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States, Ubani emphasized the devastating impact of its poor state on commerce, agriculture, education, and general livelihood.


“For over twenty years, our people have endured unbearable suffering on this route,” he noted, adding that the region now feels “clearly disadvantaged and neglected.”


Calling on President Tinubu to activate the Renewed Hope Agenda in the region, Dr. Ubani urged the President to direct the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, to investigate and ensure immediate resumption and completion of the road project.


“The people of Ikwuano will be eternally grateful if your administration addresses this critical matter before the rains return and worsen an already dire situation,” he concluded.


Of course Dr Ubani was excoriated, attacked left and right by certain persons who were angry over his various interventions - the same people who attempted to scuttle the Federal Governments' approval for Gov Otti to proceed with the rehabilitation of the road.  


Commendations must go to the former member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal constituency, Hon Sam Onuigbo who when the road totally collapsed 

worked round the clock, made extensive leg work round ministries and relevant parastatals to first get the failed portions rehabilitated and then the reconstruction of the road was captured in the 2019 Federal budget and finally awarded.


Sadly, bureaucracy, funding constraints and other unknown factors stalled the successful execution of the 25 kilometres road. At a point the funding was transferred to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Tax Credit Scheme, sadly nothing came out of it.


The take over of the road reconstruction is indeed a vindication for Dr Monday and the journalist, Tony Icheku both of who have been various defamed and even threatened with lawsuit by a pseudo evangelist who abandoned his assignment of Community Liaison Officer to assume the role of Chief Propagandist for Hartland Company Limited 


Indeed like the Holy Book said when the righteous rule, the people rejoice and there is rejoicing in Ikwuano LGA now!


Said an aide to Gov Otti, Dr Ebere Uzoukwa,  beyond the symbolism, the socio-economic implications of the road project is profound. "The roads will open new corridors for trade and industrial growth, enhance mobility between Abia’s agricultural belts and major markets, and attract investors to previously inaccessible communities. They will create employment opportunities, reduce transportation costs, and improve the overall quality of life for residents. In essence, they are the building blocks of sustainable prosperity, tangible evidence that a government driven by vision and integrity can truly change lives"