Dr. Monday Ubani, the immediate past chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), has reached out to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to initiate the healing process in the Southeast region by releasing the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and fixing the deplorable roads in the region.
In a letter dated July 10, 2023, Ubani commended the President for taking decisive actions to address the numerous challenges faced by the country and requested similar efforts to address the issues of insecurity and poor infrastructure in the Southeast.
Ubani emphasized that for the current administration to successfully implement its commendable projects, it is essential to foster a true sense of belonging by including all regions of the country. He identified the first step toward achieving peace in the Southeast as finding a political solution to the prolonged detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Ubani advised the President to release Kanu to the governors of the region.
In his letter, Ubani expressed his concerns regarding the indefinite detention of Kanu, which has led to bloodshed in the Eastern Region. He also highlighted the deplorable state of roads in the Southeast, such as the Ikwuano/Ikot Ekpene Road, Aba/Ikot Ekpene Road, and Aba/Port Harcourt Road. These road conditions have severely hampered economic activities in the region.
Ubani urged President Tinubu to intervene and alleviate the suffering of the people.
He requested a political resolution for Kanu’s case, emphasizing the need to end the ongoing violence and criminal activities that threaten the entire Eastern Region. He further suggested that Kanu be released to the governors and leaders of the region, with the understanding that he would work towards maintaining peace. Ubani assured the President that several governors and leaders in the Southeast are willing to engage in a deal that would restore peace to the region and, consequently, the country.
Regarding the dilapidated state of federal roads in the Southeast, Ubani appealed to the President to address this issue urgently. He highlighted the Ikwuano/Ikot Ekpene Road, which was awarded to Hartland Company by the previous administration but has seen little to no improvement since 2019. Ubani expressed dismay over the lack of progress made by the contractor and the absence of a satisfactory explanation from the Ministry of Works officials.