As the festive season approaches, Edo-born singer and social crusader Sunday Ajakaiye, better known by his stage name Zunday, has voiced the frustration of thousands of Edo North residents who have been cut off by the crumbling Auchi Igarra Ibillo Okene Road.
For Zunday, the pain is personal. Despite his growing success as a musician, he says he cannot even travel home to visit his mother because the road, riddled with gullies and insecurity, has become a death trap and a symbol of government failure.
“I want to go home to see my mother, to feel the village vibe, to enjoy that Christmas atmosphere,” he said with emotion. “But how can I? The road is bad, people are being kidnapped, and I do not have money for a chopper or a private jet. I am angry, not just for myself, but for everyone who cannot go home to their loved ones this season.”
Zunday, who describes himself as the voice of the voiceless, said his anger is not about politics but about the continuous neglect of a major federal highway that connects Edo to Kogi and serves as a vital lifeline for traders, farmers, and commuters across the North Central corridor.
“The people of Edo North are suffering in silence,” he said. “Every day, people lose vehicles, goods, and even their lives. The Auchi Ibillo road is no longer just a bad road; it has become a graveyard of promises.”
Road of pain and broken promises
Earlier this year, Governor Monday Okpebholo announced the rehabilitation of more than 45 failed sections of the federal road, promising that lasting repairs would be delivered. But months later, residents say not much has changed.
Only about 9.6 kilometres have received temporary palliative work, which has already begun to deteriorate under heavy rainfall and poor drainage.
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The full stretch of the Auchi Ibillo road estimated at about 51 kilometres remains in dire condition, riddled with craters that turn into ponds when it rains and dry into dust bowls under the sun.
The road, once a busy commercial link between Edo, Kogi, and parts of Ondo, has now become notorious for armed robbery, kidnapping, and fatal accidents, as drivers are forced to crawl through dangerous portions.
Where are our Representatives?
In his statement, Zunday did not hold back his criticism of the political class, from the state government to lawmakers at both the state and federal levels, accusing them of being silent while their people suffer.
“Where are our representatives?” he asked. “What are they doing in Abuja and Benin City while our mothers, traders, and transporters risk their lives daily on this road? We elected leaders to speak for us, not to keep quiet in comfort.”
He called on both the Edo State Government and the Federal Ministry of Works to act decisively, urging transparency in project handling.
“Publish the contract details, who got it, how much was paid, and when it will be completed. We deserve to know where the money is going.”
A plea before Christmas
With Christmas only weeks away, the artiste warned that thousands of families hoping to return home for the holidays may have to cancel their plans because of the road danger.
“This is the time families should be coming home with joy, not fear,” he said. “How can people celebrate Christmas when every trip feels like a gamble between life and death? The government must fix this road before December so people can travel safely.”
Let Edo North breathe again
Zunday’s advocacy blends the energy of his music with the urgency of activism. His songs often carry messages of unity, courage, and justice, and he says this campaign will be no different.
“This is not politics,” he emphasized. “It is about people. It is about life. It is about giving hope back to those who have been forgotten. Fix this road now and let Edo North breathe again.”