Without overstating the obvious, the Clarion call for Hon Sunday Karimi to represent the People of Kogi West Senatorial District in 2023 is a call borne out of the sincere desire to attract the much needed democracy dividends to the people of Kogi State.
The above summation became necessary following a write up by a faceless group, an unregistered association not known, hiding under the guise of Kogi Youths Alliance.
The psuedo group in a statement claimed to be a Press briefing which never held said Hon. Sunday Karimi does not deserve to be our Senator.
We do not intend to chase shadows, knowing fully well that the aspiration of Hon Karimi which has been widely accepted in Kogi West is already the night mare of some never do well politicians, hiding under the guise of the convener of Kogi Youth Alliance, Comrade Temitope Olufemi Daniel, but unfortunately he is largely an unknown quantity.
If the Convener is real a search across reputable and registered association in Kogi State, Particularly Kogi West shows that non of such organisation exist.
But since the mischievous elements have choosing to use an ungodly and unholy method in throwing stones in a glass house, it only be presented for us an opportunity to reel out why Hon. Sunday Karimi remains the Development bride of Kogi West come 2023.
While we will leave the likes of the Convener to wallow in self pity and disillusionment for faulting an aspiration that is a project in the hands of God and the people of Kogi West Senatorial District, we wish to make bold that the Senatorial ambition of Hon Sunday Karimi, former member of the National Assembly who represented the good people of Yagba Land for 8 years has left indelible marks, that has stood the test of time.
Indeed Yagba people can and have testified that till date no former or Present lawmaker from the area has surpassed the Unprecedented achievements on the ground made by Hon. Karimi. The landmarks are not only a significant achievements, his 8 years mandate which came by didn’t of hardwork, popularity and the massive Support he enjoyed from the people remains a watershed.
While we note that achievements is relative, reason why Comrade Temitope pointed out that the performance of the incumbent representative of Yagba Federal Constituency, Hon Lake Abejide in the last two years surpasses what Hon Karimi claimed to have achieved in 8 years. Without overstating the obvious, this clearly explains who his paymasters are and for us we’re convinced that once the pot of porridge given to the Convener has been exhausted, his true colour would surface.
While it would amount to dignifying Comrade Temitope, we urge the people of okun land and Kogi West in general to see the Convener as a personality who is being controlled by his stomach, or better still is ignorant of the outstanding performances while Hon. Karimi served.
We are happy that the Convener acknowledge that Hon Karimi has and owns private businesses meaning that he has a life outside Politics, for the devilish and mischievous intentions of the Convener, we are sure aware that the people of Kogi West Senatorial District have made a right choice in Hon. Karimi and his antecedents and past performances speaks volumes.
It is incontrovertible therefore, that Hon. Steve Sunday Karimi, a proudly Yagba man fits into the above category of leadership school needed to move Kogi West Senatorial District forward in 2023 and would not allow Lilliputian and mischief makers to be clog in the wheel of progress for the Senatorial District.
Hon. Karimi is a humble personality with an indelible mark of honesty, who put character above wealth; a Man whose forthrightness distinguishes him as a special breed and a blessing to Yagba Nation, Kogi West and humanity in general.
Hence, with due sense of humility and responsibility, taking into cognizance, the exigencies, the significance of effective, outstanding representation, Hon. Steve Sunday Karimi past and current represention to the of knowledge can be described as best senatorial product for all to support.
The choice of Hon. Sunday Karimi to represent and provide political leadership to the good people of Western Senatorial District of Kogi State at the National Assembly would be a ‘square peg in a square hole.’
This is so because the choice of electable representatives all over the world where popular democracy is practiced has always been a herculean task; not because of the dearth in human personnel rather the challenges of getting the right person for the right job.
Hon. Sunday Karimi having performed excellently well, provided effective leadership and quality representation to the satisfaction of his constituents. Re-elected for a second term in 2015 as a reward for his outstanding dedication to duty, patriotism, sacrifice and hardwork he is no doubt imbued with requisite legislative experience, needed capacity to provide a better representation at the upper legislative chamber.
Hon. Karimi as a tested, proven and trusted product has demonstrated significantly, an aggressive passion and strong commitment towards improving the economic progress, social wellbeing, and political emancipation of his people.
His visionary leadership is reflected in his daily endeavour to empower and liberate his people from the twin economic challenges of Poverty and Unemployment through proper education, vocational training, equipping and teaching on efficient management of resources.
As a creative thinker, Hon. Sunday Karimi, in addition to providing several jobs and creating opportunities for many, both in MDAs and private organizations took a conscious efforts to carry out a study on how best to improve the social and economic well being of the common man and woman; came up with blueprint that would usher in economic prosperity for the good people of Yagba federal constituency. This led to the launch in November 2013, the Yagba People Empowerment Initiative, under the management and supervision of eminent Yagba sons and daughters.
The Yagba Peoples Empowerment initiative was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission as a business entity to cater for the economic prosperity of Yagba people. The idea was conceived as a tool for harnessing and driving the various economic and entrepreneurial potentials of the good people of Yagba Land with a view to translating them to economic prosperity and improved wellbeing. It was a concept that was developed to provide a link between identified talents and skills among the youth, women, vulnerable and the old folks, and making sure those skills and talents are harnessed, showcased and translated into productive enterprise
The scheme was also designed to serve as a platform for discovery and development of the human capacity among the constituents.
It was further conceived to provide a financial base from which needed funds for operational take off and support of new and existing micro, small and medium business enterprise could be drawn as revolving financial facilities.
An initial take off grant of Fourty Million Naira (N40, 000,000.00) only was released to the fund for a take off (Hon.Karimi personally gave #34,000, 000 while #6,000,000 was contributed to the fund by his friends.
Another very important area of Hon. Karimi’s intervention is the Education sector. Understanding the importance of education to human capital development, Hon. Karimi during his years in the house of representatives initiated the renovation and rehabilitation of many schools across Yagba Federal Constituency among which are:
Rehabilitation of Amuro community secondary school, Amuro, Kogi State
Rehabilitation of Idofin-Isanlu primary school. (A block of 4 classroom)
Rehabilitation of saint kizito college Isanlu,
Rehabilitation of a block of 4 classrooms at Comprehensive Secondary School, Odo-Eri, Yagba West.
Establishment of ICT School Knowledge Centre under the Universal Service Provision Fund School Knowledge Centre Initiative of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The School Knowledge Centre is to be established at Comprehensive College, Egbe, Yagba West Local Government, Kogi State.
Hon. Karimi also established Education Support Funds initiative. As part of efforts to lessen the financial challenges confronting indigent students in their studies. He initiated education support scheme which provided financial support of #20,000 each to a minimum of 10 indigents students per ward in the 34 wards of Yagba Federal constituency. This scheme provided support for a total of 400 students with a larger percentage of students population of Higher institutions. The scheme was also managed by a Yagba man.
In addition Hon. Karimi has continued to give on regular basis several financial assistance to many students who approached him for such assistance.
It is instructive to note that Karimi, though not a noisemaker, has demonstrated enough passion, capacity and visible actions towards affecting the lives of his Constituents positively in no small measures.
A veritable index of measuring the effectiveness and performance of a Legislator is quality of Bills and Motions sponsored, effective oversights, attendance and his brilliant contributions to debates in the floor of the house. In all of these parameters , hon. Karimi is adjudged by both local and international media and political observers as a quintessential.
A very pragmatic Karimi participated actively in all the legislative debates and otherfunctions. Through out his 8 years in the green chambers, he recorded a superlative attendance.
A courageous man, full of wisdom, Karimi in the eight years of his political representation Stood in defence of the common man and became a lone voice of the oppressed.
He has used his position to get justice for many of his constituents who had suffered one injustice or the other.
Between 2011, Hon. Sunday Karimi sponsored impactful Bills and Motions, facilitating projects to the constituency, distributing empowerment materials, assisting constituents financially and also using his office to foster the interest of Yagba and even the entire people of Kogi State in the spirit of patriotism, desire to contributed to good governance and development of the people.
Between 2011 and 2015, in his first term in the green chamber, Karimi sponsored fourteen Bills and moved twenty one Motions. And in his second term(2015 – 2019), he sponsored eleven Bills and moved twenty four Motions!
Hon. Karimi executed verifiable projects in all communities in Yagba Federal constituency. These projects ranges from construction of classrooms, supply of transformers, distribution of solar-powered boreholes with 10,000 litres UPVC Tanks on 6 metres tower in communities across Yagba East, Yagba West and Mopa/Amuro Local Governmenst in Yagba Federal Constituency, Kogi State.
He empowered women and youths in his illustrious eight years in the House of Representatives.
A cursory look at the Bills, Motions and Empowerment Initiatives and Activities of Hon. Karimi as stated above, will show a passionate desire by a Patriot and Statesman to contribute his quota to the development of Yagbaland, Okunland, Kogi West Senatorial District, Kogi State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a whole..
As a Yagba man, I make bold to say, that there is no single Ward or Community in Yagba Land that has not benefited from the good representation of Hon. Karimi.
For the avoidance of doubt and unnecessary contradictions, the lists of all the motions, his debates and contributions in the floor of the House shall be coming your way in my subsequent write-ups on the same subject matter.
Virtually, everything that truly qualifies a person for leadership is directly related to character and integrity which is the main issue that makes the difference between a good leader and a bad one.
Successful leadership requires impeccable moral integrity. As a man of integrity and character, Hon Karimi resisted every pressure on him to take the house of Representatives ticket for a third term. An offer many in his shoes would jump at even when it was glaring to all that the Senatorial ticket was unjustly taking away from him. A man of character, Karim is prepared to sacrifice for the good of others.
Hon. Karimi commenced the following water projects:
WATER PROJECTS
(I) The rehabilitation and conversion to Motorised, some Hand pumps boreholes that were hitherto inoperative and some converted to Motorised Boreholes with Solar Powered, UPVC tanks, and fetching points. The Boreholes were located in the following Communities :
MOPAMURO LGA
* Takete-Ide
* Aiyeteju Amuro
* Illai Ward, 05 Mopa
YAGBA WEST LGA
* Eyin-Odi, Iloko Egbe
* Oke Egbe Beside 1st ECWA Church
* Oba Palace Egbe
* Egbe Tuntun-Egbe
* Odo-Egbe Ward II
YAGBA EAST LGA
* Ere in Ife Olukotun
* Ejuku by Oba’s Palace
* Ponyan
(ii) Construction of New Hand Pump Boreholes in Communities within the Federal Constituency, namely :
YAGBA WEST LGA
* Ejiba
* Odo Ere
* Odo-Eri
* Ogbe
* Okoloke
* Oke-Egbe in ECWA Hospital (2 Boreholes)
* Ile Eja,Oke Egbe.
* Salvation Army Area, Ward 04 Oke-Egbe.
* Ward 01,Isaba,Oke Egbe.
* Otun Okua Odo Egbe.
*
YAGBA EAST LGA
* Makutu Isanlu.
* Bagido Isanlu.
* Ejuku
* Ife Olukotun by the Mosque.
* Igabgun
* Itedo, Ijowa, Isanlu.
MOPAMURO LGA
* Takete Ide
* Aiyeteju Amuro.
(iii) New Motorised Boreholes installed with UPVC TANK and SOLAR POWERD were constructed in:
* Jege
* Igbaruku/Iyamerin
* Egbe tuntun
* Aiyeteju Amuro
ALL THE ABOVE WATER PROJECTS WERE SELF- FINANCED BY HON. KARIMI
Under the 2013 Appropriation Act, the Following water Projects were initiated and captured under the Lower Niger River Basin and approved for the beneficiary communities:
(I) 10 Numbers Solar Powered Motorised Boreholes spread across the Communities:
* Egbe- Ipo
* Egbe- Oke Agada
* Itedo Isanlu
* Oke- Meta Isanlu
* Mopa
* Oranre
* Ife-Olukotun
* Ogga
* Odo-Ere
* Jege
(iv) TOWNSHIP WATER SCHEME:
Hon. Sunday Karimi facilitated The Rehabilitation of Township Water Scheme under the Lower Niger River Basin in these communities:
Isanlu in Yagba East,
Egbe in Yagba West and
Ife-Olukotun also in Yagba East.
(V). Hon. Karimi facilitated the construction and handling over of additional 12 nos. of Solar Powered Motorised Boreholes Complete with 10,000 Litres UPVC Tanks on 6 metres each to the following communities:
MOPAMURO LGA
1. Aiyedayo Oroke,
2. Bareke in ward 2 Mopa,
3. Okeagi ward 5
4 . Ward 3, Mopa
YAGBA WEST LGA
1 There are 2 in Egbe,
2. Iloo Compound Ejiba,
3. Okoloke
YAGBA EAST LGA
1. Oranre,
2. Idofin Isanlu,
3. Panyan
4. Mopo Isanlu
5. Iddo – Isanlu
LAWMAKING AND LAW REFORM
The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at Section 4 thereof, vests in the National Assembly, the power to make laws for the peace good order and development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These Laws are to be made by the instrumentality of Bills and Motions passed on the Floor.
Hon. Karimi as a hardworking Legislator who has caught a niche for himself among his contemporaries given the huge commitment and capacity demonstrated in the years of his representation proved himself beyond reasonable doubt that is an excellent legislator.
Please find below, some of the Bills sponsored by Hon. Sunday Karimi during his years in the National Assembly.
NAME OF BILL AND OBJECTIVE OF THE BILL BY SPONSORED BY HON. STEVE SUNDAY KARIMI
1. EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCE BILL 2011
(i) Prevent the Indiscriminate use of Explosive Substance.
(ii) regulate and licence all kinds of explosive substances in Nigeria.
(iii) Promote internal Security and Peace.
2. WHISTLEBLOWER BILL 2011
(i) Protect persons/
patriots making disclosures of planned unlawful acts and prescribing how disclosures are to be made.
(ii) Help fight Crimes such as Corruption,
Terrorism and other organised Crimes.
(iii) Promote Community Policing and give effect to the Freedom of Information Act.
3. NATIONAL ROAD FUND BILL 2011
(i) Promote Road Sector and Infrastructural Development
(ii) Provide dedicated Fund for road Maintenance
4. NATIONAL GRAZING ROUTES AND GRAZING RESERVES BILL 2012
(i) Establish a Grazing Route and Reserve Commission.
(ii) Provide a dedicated Route for Grazing Cattle and Livestock from North to South to avoid incursion of Cattle in Crop Plantation of Farmers.
(iii) Preventing Conflicts that occur between Fulani Herdsman and Crop Farmers majorly in the Middle Belt Region.
(iv) Promote food sufficiency (Meat, dairy and crops).
(v) Revive Agric Sector and Agric Exports.
(vi) Promote Internal Security and Cohesion.
5. NATIONAL SYMBOLS BILL, 2013.
(I) Promote National Unity and Cohesion.
(II) Stimulate and induce respect for National Values.
(III) Prohibit Sectionalism and promote Nationalism.
(IV) Respect for National Symbols.
6. NIGERIAN INVESTMENT PROMOTION COUNCIL(AMENDMENT) BILL,2012
(i) Remove certain Clogs in the Wheel of Progress of NIPC in its bid to attract Foreign Direct Investment into Nigeria.
(ii) Promote Domestic Employment
(iii) Promote Gross National Product, Gross Domestic Product,
(iv) Promote National Income and Development
7. NATIONAL FARM RESERVE BILL 2012
(i) Promote Food Sufficiency in Nigeria.
(ii) Increase Agric Contribution to Export.
(iv) Increase Domestic Employment
(v) Increase Balance of Trade and Balance of Payment.
(v) Promote National Income and achieve Macroeconomic Stability.
8. PROHIBITION OF INDISCIPLINE BILL 2012.
(I) Promotion of Discipline in all aspects of our National Life.
(II) Upholding National Values and ethics.
9. NATIONAL SECURITY AND AIR SURVEILLANCE BILL 2013
(i) Promote Internal Security.
(ii) Combat Terrorism and Pipeline Vandalism
10. CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (AMENDMENT) BILL 2013
(I) Ensure Independence of the Judiciary
(II) Uphold the Rule of Law Successfully passed.
11. MERCHANT SHIPPING (AMENDMENT)BILL 2013
(I) Ensure Maritime Safety and Security.
(II) Remove the clog in the Wheel of NIMASA to prosecute Maritime Offences.
(III) Minimize oil theft.
12. NIGERIAN MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY(AMENDMENT) BILL 2013
(I) Maritime Safety and Security.
(II) Remove the clog in the Wheel of NIMASA to prosecute Maritime Offences.
(II). Minimize oil theft.
13. FEDERAL HIGHWAYS AMENDMENT BILL
(I) Proscribe Driving on One Way on the Highway an Offence
(II) Promote safety on the Highway
14. CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ROLL-OVER BILL
(I) Ensure Effective Budget Utilisation and Performance.
(III) Roll-over Unspent appropriated Expenditure to next Fiscal Year.
(IV) Prevent abandoned Capital Projects.
(IV) Reduce Wastage and leakages in Public Finance.
SOME OF THE MOTIONS MOVED BY HON. STEVE SUNDAY KARIMI
1. MOTION ON THE URGENT NEED TO INVESTIGATE THE DISBURSEMENT AND UTILISATION OF BAIL-OUT FUNDS TO STATE GOVERNMENTS
2. A MOTION ON THE NEED TO CONSOLIDATE ON THE GAINS RECORDED IN THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE FORTHCOMING GUBERNATORIAL POLLS IN KOGI AND BAYELSA STATES
3. A MOTION ON URGENT NEED TO FIND A LASTING SOLUTION TO THE INCESSANT VIOLENCE, LAWLESSNESS, IMPUNITY AND CRIMINALITY BETWEEN CATTLE HERDSMEN AND LOCALS NATIONWIDE.
4. A MOTION ON THE PREVENTION AND PROHIBITION OF INDISCIPLINE ACT IN NIGERIA AND A NEED TO REORIENTATE NIGERIANS AT ALL LEVELS TO EMBRACE THE VALUE OF DISCIPLINE, HARDWORKING AND INTEGRITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR NATIONAL LIFE.
5. MOTION OF URGENT NATIONAL IMPORTANCE MOTION ON THE ILLEGALITY IN REMOVAL OF SPEAKER OF THE KOGI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
6. MOTION OF URGENT NATIONAL IMPORTANCE, THE NEED TO ADDRESS THE HUNGER, HARDSHIP AND THE DEPRECIATING WELFARE OF MASSES ALL OVER NIGERIA.
7. MOTION ON THE NEED TO RESCUE THE NAIRA FROM CONTINUOUS FREE FALL.
8. MOTION ON THE NEED TO UNMASK THE PERPETRATORS OF GHOST WORKER SYNDICATES IN THE FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE.
9. MOTION ON THE MONETARY POLICY OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA: UNDUE EXPLOITATION OF CITIZENS BY COMMERCIAL BANKS.
10. MOTION ON THE URGENT NEED TO CONDEMN AND STOP VOTE-BUYING DURING ELECTIONS.
11. MOTION ON THE NEED TO ENFORCE THE REGSTRATION OF MOTORCYCLES AND TRICYCLES ON ALL PUBLIC ROADS IN NIGERIA.
While we have choosing to be civil in our approach, the Projects and motion by Hon. Karimi are enough testimonies that his represention was eventful, with efforts outside Office still on in community development.
Signed
Sanjo Orebiyi