Yagba Nation is a great nation of highly resourceful, Intelligent, brilliant individuals who are excelling in their various fields of human endeavor. They speak Yagba as a major language.
Yagba Nation is one of the three federal constituencies that makes up the Western Senatorial District of Kogi State. A very vibrant senatorial district in the Federal Republic of Nigeria
However, it is unfortunate, highly disheartening and disconcerting to note, that since 1999 which ushered in the current democratic dispensation, Yagba Federal constituency is the only one yet to produce a senator.
in the 20 years of the current democratic dispensation, Lokoja/Koto Federal Constituency produced senator for two terms of Eight(8) years, Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu is producing senator for the fourth term of 16 years while Yagba is yet to produce any.
The ugly scenario is not because Yagba have no men and women of capacity, stature, proficiency and experience to represent Kogi West.
The challenges facing Yagba people has been Yagba People, there was no time Yagba had not enjoyed the support of other people from other federal constituencies to produced senator but Yagba had consistently betrayed themselves.
Inability of Yagba people to forgive themselves has been discovered to be their undoing. A very long chain of vengeance must be broken for the people to realize the ambition of producing the next senator.
That Yagba deserves to produce the next senator to represent Kogi West senatorial district is a matter of equity and fairness.
It is high time, we begin to have a rethink, by re-evaluating what roles we have individually played in the past to throw away opportunities to produce a senator. Often times as justifiable as our actions may seems , the truth is that it was born out of bitterness, wickedness and absolute hatred.
We must begin to learn the act of forgiveness from the people of Central Senatorial District. We must have a correct understanding of what self-esteem is all about by understudying Ebira people.
They new they had to put all sentiments away, forgive themselves, eschew bitterness, and work for the common goal of having their second term as governor so that their generation will not be relegated.
In 2019 governorship election, Governor Bello did not win election in Kogi Central because he was a saint, neither was because he did not offend some people but because the people of Central resolved to overlooked the inadequacies of Bello coupled with their determination to complete their second term which to them is more important than an individual’s interest, action or inaction.
Yagba people have consistently blocked the chances of their fellow Yagba man to win election to senate in retaliation or as a vengeance for the perceived wrong doing of the past, this is with no exception to any of the critical players and actors.
Though we have many qualified individuals with capacity to give good representation but for the characters and attitude of our so-called political jobbers and detractors who would not see anything good in their own brothers.
Yagba is no doubt being relegated to the political backwater of Kogi State. The respect we use to command is fast becoming a thing of history.
The time has come for us to have a rethink, learn why others are progressing. We must come to the realization that we need ourselves. There is urgent need to be united in purpose and in our pursuit to produce the next senator of Yagba Extraction.
There is no aspirant from Yagba that is not great, good and qualified for senate. They are good people and deserve our support.
In view of the above therefore, Let me take this delicate liberty once again to appeal to every Yagba man and woman and the entire Kogi West people to support the aspiration of Hon. Steve Sunday Karimi who I considered as the best option for senate.
The choice of Hon. Karimi is based on his legislative experience, capacity and performance index. His capacity has been tested, his experience is certified and his performance can be guaranteed.
As a two term House of Representatives member of the National Assembly, he his exposed to the workings of the legislature. A man of large and goodly heart, the confidence that he will give good representation is not in doubt. And for the sake of emphasis I presents further below, the continuation of his account of stewardship as a former House of Representatives member, representing Yagba federal constituency.(2011 – 2019):
ELECTRIFICATION PROJECTS:
(i)Hon. Karimi Sunday facilitated the completion of Omo-Owa Mopo Electrification Extension Project which was initiated and abandoned for years.
The project was completed with provision of Transformer by Hon. Karimi and now serving the residents of Omo-Owa Mopo, Isanlu, the Project was self financed by Hon. Karimi.
(ii) Ofin Isanlu Electrification Extension Project, an initiative of the Hon. Karimi , was completed with the provision of Transformer under the 2012 Appropriation Act and now fully functional.
(iii) Ejuku Transformer and Extension Project under the 2012 Appropriation initiated by Hon. Karimi
(iv) Egbe Transformer and Extension Project is was completed under the 2012 Appropriation Act.
(V) Solar Street Lightening in the following Communities:
* Ejiba. * * Mopa * Ejuku
* Ife-Olukotun * Odo Ere
* Ponyan * Oko-Ere
* Isanlu Bagido/Mopo
* Isanlu Ijowa/Makutu
* Idofin Isanlu
* Ogbom Community
(iii) Supply of Nine (9) numbers of 500KVA Transformer in the following Communities, through MDG office:
* Mopa Town. * Aiyedayo-Amuro
* Mopo-Isanlu * Itedo-Ijowa Isanlu
* OOgga. *Egbe. * OOdo-Ere
* Ife- Olukotun. * Igbagun
(iv) Contract Award for the Completion of Rural Electrification Project for Okunran/Okoloke/Isanlu Essa, Kogi State. This Project was initiated, but abandoned since 2004. However, Hon. Karimi worked with other Legislators to facilitate the commencement of work on the project through its inclusion in the 2013 and 2014 Appropriation Act for the completion of the project.
DIRECT EMPOWERMENT AND HANDCRAFTS:
(I) Purchase and Handover of over 270 Motorcycles to beneficiaries across the 34 wards of Yagba Federal Constituency. (He distributed 120 and 150 in his first and second empowerment programs respectively.)
(I) Distributed Eighty five (85) Grinding Machines for to Beneficiaries across various Communities in the Federal Constituency.
(II) (ii) Distribution of Ninety (90) Sewing Machines to constituents across the various Communities in the Federal Constituency.
(III) Distribution of 50 units of Tricycles to constituents from the 34 wards.
(IV) Distribution of 20 units of Generators to constituents.
(V) Distribution of 3 Units of Block Making Machines.
(VI) Bought a giant generating set for a Welder in Mopa valued at N450,000
(VII) He facilitated the training of 65 Artisans across the 34 wards in various vocations
(iii). Donated Jeeps to Six(6) Traditional Rulers from the three L.G.As.
(iv). Distributed Twenty (25) Cars to selected members of his Constituents for commercial purposes.
(V). Distributed Fourty five (45) Deep Freezers to women from across the 34 wards.
MARKET INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
The following Markets were rehabilitated and reconstructed. They were self-financed by Honourable Sunday Karimi
1. Rehabilitation of Ebu Market, Oke Egbe, Yagba West Local Government, Kogi State.
2. Upgrade and Reconstruction of Mopo Isanlu Market, Yagba East Local Government, Kogi State.
3. Upgrade and Reconstruction of Bagido Isanlu Market, Yagba East Local Government, Kogi State.
4. Rehabilitation of Odo- Egbe Market, Yagba West Local Government Kogi State.
Sponsor of Members of the Constituency for Pilgrimage
Eight (8 ) Muslim faithful were sponsored for Hajj Programmes in Saudi Arabia.
Seven (7) Christian Pilgrimage were sponsored to Israel, Rome and Greece.
Hon. Karimi as a Philanthropist has continue to give supports to communities, groups, individuals even out of office. His philanthropist gestures to individuals and groups cuts across party lines.
Conclusively, it is important to note that, experience is of great value and essence, because an experienced Legislator will be able to give the best in the circumstance. Hence, Hon. Steve Sunday Karimi remained the best option!
Toba Abraham is a citizen of Yagba West.