It is obvious that many people in Kogi West are beginning to express their doubt over whether Yagba People will be able to get their thinking on who represent the senatorial district at the upper legislative chamber right. This expression is based on the antecedent of the past.
While I agreed that we have many people who are qualified to be Senator, the fact remains that not all of them can become a senator. This is the reason we must be sensitive to recognized that this is not the time for us to be divisive.
It is the time for us to apply our ways and thought on to wisdom. We can not afford to gamble. We need a man like Hon. Sunday Karimi who is known across the entire state. He is an household name in Kogi West .
Karimi is unarguably the most popular aspirant with wider acceptance of many who need no introduction in the length and breadth of Kogi West.
Hon. Karimi stands tall as a Philantropist, a socio crusader and a positive thinker who strives every moment of opportunity to make his environment better than he met it.
Like we promised to make all his work known, though time and space may not permit us to place the entirety of his projects before us here, but attempt shall be made to showcase some.
It is an acknowledged truth that the duty of a responsible and effective Legislator is to Sponsor Bills and Motions on the Floor of the National Assembly in a bid to protect and promote the interest of the citizenry, develop the Nation and ensure peace and good governance.
It is also the duty of the executives to implements laws made. The executive is expected to carry out the construction of schools, bridges, roads, provision of electricity, water and so on but it is absurd to see people ignorantly blamed their elected representatives for failure of the executive to carry out their functions.
The failure of the Nigeria governments to meet its responsibility has left us with the question of whether Nigeria, the so called Africa giant is taken her proper place in the committee of Nations. This may not be an appropriate description however , the reality on the ground confirms Nigeria’s falling into the undesired category. This description is a reflection of a sovereign state unable to meet its central objective, the needs of the people.
As a State, Nigeria has failed to meet the basic human needs of its population; it lacks transparent and accountable political institutions and it has not produced sustainable or equitable economic growth.
It is in view of the above therefore, that citizens are led to the misconception of the roles and functions of the legislators as against the roles and functions of the executive .
The citizens in Nigeria today rather than encourage their elected representative to make good laws that will guarantee good governance and improve their wellbeing are expecting their legislators to assume the roles of executive arm by directly involved in building schools, provide water and other essential amenities.
However, it is the realisation of the enormous trust bestowed on him by the people of Yagba Federal Constituency as expressed through the ballots and the burden of responsibility to meet the yearnings and aspirations of his people that Hon. Steve Sunday Karimi on assumption of office on 6th June, 2011 as elected member representing Yagba Federal constituency in the National Assembly discovered that one of the most challenging critical amenities facing the good people of Yagba Land is water supply. Most streams and rivers that hitherto were sources of water to the people have all, due to environmental changes dried up while most wells and hand pump boreholes are not functional. This water problem was so severe as successive government could not find a lasting solution to it until the emergence of Hon. Sunday Karimi.
Karimi vowed to confront the problem of water headlong. According to him, ‘water is life’ and that the importance of water to life can not be over -emphasised. Hence, he is of the opinion that with hygienic, clean portable water, a reasonable number of sicknesses and diseases could be prevented as the saying goes. “Prevention is better than cure”. This was why he hits the ground rolling immediately he was iinaugurated
Karimi commenced with 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.
To be continued…
Toba Abraham is a citizen of Yagba West.