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Senator Sunday Karimi’s Remarkable Progress in 200 Days

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By Ralph Omololu-Agbana

For Senator Sunday Karimi who represents Kogi West, two hundred days into the life of the 10th National Assembly has been one of remarkable contribution to law making and reforms in the larger interest of the country.

Streaming the instruments of law sponsored by Senator Karimi, one cannot but say that his bills and motions, so far, are, by nature, nationalistic; undeniably premised on his belief that national economic stability takes preeminence and serves as prerequisite for sectional legislative initiatives toward achieving his primary objective of lifting his backward constituency.
 

Since sworn-in as Senator of the Federal Republic on the 13th June 2023, Karimi has sponsored the following legislative Instruments: motion on urgent need to prioritize nation building, national unity and development in the 10th Senate; motion on urgent need to appraise the condition of the Nigerian federal roads and to re-think financing options; motion on the need to halt the disbursement of $800m Dollars subsidy palliative Loan and channel it to people centered self- financing developmental projects; motion on urgent need to investigate turn around maintenance projects of Nigerian refineries in order to uncover waste and continued plundering of public resources; motion on urgent need to step up efforts to stem the tide of oil theft in the Niger Delta Region and better safeguard the oil and gas infrastructure in the Region; motion on urgent need to investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria Naira Redesign Project; motion on urgent need to investigate the Subsidy Regime from 2011 to 2023. 

Within the short period, Senator Karimi also sponsored the Central Bank of Nigeria (Amendment Bill 2023). The Bill is aimed at abolishing use of dollar or any foreign currency in domestic transactions. It also seeks to make the CBN more transparent and accountable and to stop the Governor and Deputy Governors of the Bank from participating in partisan politics whilst in office, among others; Dishonored Cheques Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2023: To update the law and widen the scope of what constitutes Dishonored Cheque, increase the penal provisions to ensure the law serves as deterrent to offenders and to bring the law in tandem with current realities of today’s world; ICPC Amendment Bill 2023: Objective is to make the Commission more efficiently positioned to combat corrupt practices; Penal Code Amendment Bill 2023: The Bill seeks to amend the offence of rape to make the offence gender neutral and to bring the legal framework in tandem with current realities.

By nature, to those who know Senator Karimi from his days in the college, he is not loquatious. But, beyond his softspokeness, carefully selecting his words, is the veneered intelligence and accuracy in the presentation of issues laced with facts and figures. And this was the trait he carried with him from his eight, productive years in the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2019, to the current senate.

Indeed, Karimi’s multisectoral agenda setting towards bringing government close to Kogi West people can be visualized from his knowledge of the challenges and likely solutions. 

As a ranking Senator, Karimi understands the workings of the national assembly. His appointment as Chairman, Senate Services Committee, speaks volume of his relevance and capabilities, which further placed him with the advantage to make things happen for the greater good of constituents and country.

However, given the enormity of the challenges facing Kogi West people, a Senator must not only give vent and voice to their collective yearnings and aspirations, he must have the requisite drive, energy, resourcefulness to transcend the confines of the of the hallowed chambers, to practically and visibly ensure the delivery of the democratic dividends to his people.

From zero roads and accesses, lack of such basic amenities as portable water and the epileptic power supply, ecological challenges, the sore taste of many graduates roaming the streets without employment and poverty, amid zero industrialization and mass empowerment to collapsed local government system, etcetera, Kogi West is massively underdeveloped.

But none has pulled at the heartstrings of the people of Kogi West like road infrastructure.

The Abuja-Lokoja road construction which started since 2003 and is yet to be completed. It has become a recurring decimal for the failed portions of Kabba-Iyamoye-Omuo-Ekiti road to become impassable yearly, especially during the raining season. This is a federal road that links the north to the southwest and has been so useful for the movement of people and goods between the two regions.

Likewise, the abandoned kabba-Egbe-Ilorin road, constructed in the 1970s and last rehabilitated in the 1990s through the defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). In some cases, kidnappers capitalize on the poor state of the road to abduct travellers, who either pay ransoms to regain their freedom or get killed. The recent siege on the road by heavy trucks has worsened the Aiyetoro-Gbedde-Isanlu-Egbe section of the road.

The 231km ‘Trunk A’ road was approved and awarded for reconstruction in 2014 and 2016, but was abandoned after the flag-off exercise, with the exception of the 17km that was constructed from Kabba to Aiyetoro Gbede in Ijumu Local Council. After some time, the condition of the road deteriorated. The matter is worse because vehicles, especially trailers, petrol and gas tankers, and other heavy trucks plying the collapsed Kabba-Ekiti road, from the northern parts of the country, have now found a detour in the Kabba-Egbe road.

No fewer than 500 trailers ply the road on a daily basis, thereby rendering the road impassable. It has also degraded the environment and caused tension to residents of Yagba communities along that road. The collapse of the road has rendered the people, mostly farmers, who dwell along the road, poorer, as travellers who normally buy farm produce displayed by the roadside are no longer doing so.

A journey of 231 kilometres from Ilorin to Kabba, and 315 kilometres from Ilorin to Lokoja, which used to take between three hours and four hours, when the road was still motorable now takes about two days.

Asked during an interview what would be his priorities if he has the opportunity of meeting President Bola Tinubu and has to present three cases of challenges facing Kogi West people for immediate federal government attention, Senator Karimi said his three requests would be “road, road and road”.

He noted, “Roads are the key to development. Any country that wants to develop must first build roads. Without roads, you cannot be thinking of development. It is on those roads that goods are transported”.

According to him, “One of the major problems in my senatorial district that I have been brainstorming on even before the election is our roads. All the communities I visited to campaign, they kept mentioning road and I have been brainstorming on how to go about the rehabilitation and reconstruction of federal roads in Kogi West. If you look at the constituency fund, it can not do anything looking at the deplorable condition of these roads. Look at Kabba-Egbe-Ilorin road, we have to remember that the contractor abandoned the road because they were not adequately funded in the budget”.

What has he done, doing or planning to do? Karimi said, “The Kabba-Egbe-Ilorin road is in the 2024 appropriation bill, but with little money from the ministry of works, efforts through lobby will be made to increase the amount to be appropriated in the 2024 Appropriation Act.However, due to the shrinking government revenue, especially as capital expenditure accounts for only about 28 percent in the national budget, talks are ongoing on alternative funding arrangements such as concessioning. Like the Keffi-Llafia Road, other alternative financing models are also been appraised in the face of a shrieked federal purse.

“Kabba-Egbe-Ilorin road has not been motorable in the last 15 years. The last contactor that handled the job left site since 2014. How do we move forward. I am considering government terminating the contract and finding other means of funding that project. May be we will have to explore public/private partnership. FG would need money to do those roads and many other infrastructures, hence, the need to block revenue leakages”.

On the epileptic power supply in Okunland, he said, “I have initiated talks already with Development Association of Communities to try and ascertain the root cause of the problem in order to propose best line of legislative action”.

Still on road infrastructure, contributing to a motion on the “Dilapidated State of Nigeria Roads” on the floor of the Senate. Karimi noted: “It pierces through my heart seeing the state of the roads in my Senatorial District have not been motorable for a very long time. It is imperative and a matter of urgency that we source for adequate means of funding these road constructions and repairs with quick action plans”.

On empowerment of constituents, between July and September, Karimi encouraged interested and qualified candidates from Kogi West Senatorial District to apply for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Academy, the Nigerian Army and Immigration Service, among others, with a view to assisting successful candidates enlisted. A portal, he disclosed, was opened for unemployed graduates to drop their applications for submission.

Official statement from Karimi’s office in the National Assembly confirmed that employment slots given to some of the applicants were successful and the candidates already deployed.

The beneficiaries however applied only to those that met all requirements as stipulated. Similar gesture was extended to candidates that applied for admission into federal universities.

The Sunday Karimi Media Team however noted that the slots could only be available to candidates who indicated interest.

Karimi has also initiated subsidy palliative measures for constituents. In the scheme, a list of 100 names from each ward has been compiled and forwarded to Abuja.

A statement from Karimi’s Media Team explained that “The Distinguished Senator Karimi consider his efforts with regards to facilitating employment opportunities and admissions into federal universities as one that should not be a matter for self glory or advertisement. He is satisfied that his efforts are yielding the desired results. Also note that the number of successful candidates will always be based on the response he gets from interested candidates. There is no making a fuss about our principal doing what is expected of him for his constituents in his capacity as their servant”.

The media team recalled that the strategy that worked for Karimi in his eight years in the Lower Chamber is what is being deployed and expanded upon in this current assignment in the Upper Chamber.

It noted that his time in the House of Representatives witnessed a period of significant achievements and progress, marked by infrastructural development, legislative initiatives, a commitment to empowering constituents and equitable spread of the dividends of democracy.

“In terms of making laws for good governance, Karimi sponsored over 26 bills and moved a plethora of motions during his time in the House of Representatives. He was one of the most vibrant in the House. As a Rep, notable areas of intervention by Karimi across the 34 electoral wards in Yagba Federal Constituency included water projects, education, rural electrification, youth, women, students and direct empowerments, handcrafts and market infrastructure development. It will not be out of place to state that Karimi was elected twice to represent Yagba Federal Constituency on account of performance”.

Karimi’s experience in the lower chamber no doubt had prepared him for the bigger role in the Upper Chamber. Notably, the immediate distraction was defending his mandate at the election petitions tribunal. Fortunately, Karimi’s popular victory at the February 25 Kogi West Senate election was upheld by the appeal court on October 30. With the distraction over, Karimi will have no excuse not to concentrate on delivery of democracy dividends to an expectant constituents consisting seven large local government areas and 85 electoral wards.

Asked if he saw the larger areas to be covered as a burden, Karimi said he saw it as a challenge instead, but one that is not unsurmountable.

POLITICS

2027: INEC ‌‍⁠⁠‍‍⁠⁠‍‌‍⁠‌‍⁠‍‍Engages Adamawa PWDs on Electoral Process

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa has sensitised Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) on the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Muhammad Nura, said this at the inauguration of the exercise on Monday in Yola.

He said that persons with disabilities constituted an important part of the electorate, adding that the commission was geared toward ensuring an inclusive electoral process.

Nura said that the commission recognised the need to identify and address barriers to ensure that no eligible voter was left out.

“Our commitment to electoral inclusion requires continuous sensitisation, effective collaboration with disability organisations, and improved voter education. And the identification of reasonable measures to facilitate participation by voters with various forms of disability,” he said.

According to Nura, the commission is paying attention to the accessibility of polling units; availability of voter education materials in appropriate formats, and effective communication with voters with different forms of disabilities.

He said that the commission would deploy appropriate assistive devices in accordance with its procedures, to enhance support for different disability clusters.

Aliyu Shaba, Head of Department, Voter Education, said that the exercise was designed to strengthen implementation of inclusive guidelines, voter education and mobilisation.

He said, “the workshop is about moving from awareness to practical action.

“As we prepare for the 2027 general election, let us strengthen our collective responsibility to ensure interventions reach those for whom they are intended,” he said.

Shaba highlighted that the exercise would strengthen capacity, improve implementation and ensure that no eligible PWDs exercise their franchise.

Also, Sani Sabo, Chairman, Joined Association of Person with Disabilities, lauded the gesture.

Sabo, represented by his deputy, Dalhatu Muhammad, assured their members to mobilise participation in the election. (NAN)

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2027: Buba Yakub Mobilises Adamawa Support for Tinubu, APC

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From Yagana Ali, Yola

The Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, has called on the people of Adamawa State to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, while reaffirming his commitment to the welfare of his former constituents.

Buba Yakub made the call during an empowerment programme organised by the Rt.

Hon. Yusuf Capt. Buba Support Group in Faci, within the Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency of Adamawa State, where more than 1,000 people benefited from cash grants and other forms of assistance.

The programme brought together APC leaders, political stakeholders, community representatives and beneficiaries, providing a platform for grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections and renewed engagement with communities in the constituency.

The NTAC Director-General urged residents to support Tinubu’s re-election, citing what he described as the administration’s achievements and reforms in revenue generation, tertiary education, national unity, security, local government autonomy, foreign exchange stability and broader national development.

He also called for support for APC candidates contesting presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives, state assembly and other elective positions in Adamawa State.

According to him, the empowerment initiative was conceived by his support group and endorsed by him as part of his commitment to giving back to the people who elected him to the House of Representatives on two occasions.

He explained that his continued engagement with the constituency was motivated by a desire to sustain the relationship he built with the people during his years in elective office.

Buba Yakub further pledged to deploy his political experience, networks and available resources towards mobilising support for the APC across Adamawa State, stressing the importance of grassroots participation in the forthcoming elections.

He maintained that political mobilisation should be accompanied by sustained engagement with the people and efforts to address their needs.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Vice-Chancellor of Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Professor Ibrahim Umar, commended Buba Yakub for maintaining close ties with his former constituency despite his current national assignment.

Professor Umar observed that the NTAC Director-General was not seeking elective office at the moment but had continued to provide assistance to his former constituents through financial support and other empowerment initiatives.

He described the programme as an indication of continued engagement with the people beyond the period of elective service.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that the beneficiaries and supporters who attended the event reflected the enduring relationship between Buba Yakub and the constituency he previously represented.

He said the initiative demonstrated the importance of maintaining contact with constituents and responding to their needs even after leaving the National Assembly.

Professor Umar also expressed support for Buba Yakub’s appeal for the re-election of President Tinubu and the election of other APC candidates in 2027.

He urged party supporters to remain committed to the political direction being advocated by their leaders.

Also speaking, the representative of the Adamawa State Governor and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley, called on APC leaders and supporters to strengthen grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wesley urged party stakeholders to emulate Buba Yakub’s approach to engaging supporters and translating political influence into practical activities at the community level.

He challenged party leaders to work towards securing support for the APC in their respective polling units, wards and local government areas.

According to him, effective grassroots organisation and sustained engagement with voters would be important to the party’s preparations for the forthcoming elections.

The event attracted several prominent APC figures in Adamawa State, including the party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Ahmed Tijjani Galadima; its candidate for Adamawa Central Senatorial District, Comrade Salihu Mustapha, PhD; the APC National Vice-Chairman for the North-East, Barrister Idriss Shuaibu; and the Adamawa State APC Chairman, Alhaji Hamza Bello Madagali.

Also in attendance were members of the National and State Assemblies representing constituencies across Adamawa Central, including Rt. Hon. James Barka of Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency, Hon. Wakili Aliyu Boya of Fufore/Song Federal Constituency, Rufa’i Umar of Gombi State Constituency and Hon. John Alaba of Uba Gaya State Constituency.

Their participation highlighted the political significance of the gathering as APC stakeholders intensified preparations for the 2027 elections.

The presence of party leaders and elected representatives also provided an opportunity to reinforce calls for cooperation among stakeholders and stronger engagement with supporters across the state.

A major highlight of the programme was the distribution of cash grants ranging from ₦50,000 to ₦100,000 to 565 APC supporters drawn from the 22 wards of the Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency.

According to the organisers, more than 500 additional party supporters received various forms of assistance, bringing the total number of participants and beneficiaries covered by the initiative to over 1,000.

The intervention was designed to provide financial assistance to beneficiaries while reinforcing Buba Yakub’s continued engagement with the constituency.

For recipients, the cash grants and other forms of support represented immediate assistance that could help address some of their financial needs.

The organisers said the programme formed part of the support group’s broader efforts to reach constituents through empowerment activities and community-based interventions.

Beyond the empowerment programme, special interventions were also extended a day earlier to individuals and communities affected by insurgent attacks, as well as people contributing to efforts to address insecurity in the area.

The assistance targeted former constituents affected by recent attacks in communities around Garaha-Dutse, Lhar, Bunya and other locations.

The intervention underscored the continuing humanitarian challenges facing communities affected by insecurity and the need for support for people whose lives and livelihoods have been disrupted.

For affected households, assistance of this nature can help meet immediate needs while communities continue to grapple with the consequences of attacks and displacement.

The organisers said the initiative was part of the group’s engagement with vulnerable residents and communities facing difficult circumstances.

The programme combined financial assistance, community engagement and political mobilisation as APC stakeholders looked towards the 2027 general elections.

For Buba Yakub, the initiative provided an opportunity to reconnect with a constituency he represented in the House of Representatives while calling for support for Tinubu and other APC candidates.

His appeal centred on the argument that support for the party should extend across the various elective positions, from the presidency to legislative seats at the federal and state levels.

However, the administration’s cited achievements and the expected electoral benefits remain positions advanced by the organisers and speakers at the event.

As political activities gradually build towards 2027, the gathering in Faci reflected the growing importance of grassroots engagement, empowerment initiatives and political alliances in Adamawa State.

The programme concluded with a renewed call for APC supporters to remain active in their communities, strengthen party structures and participate in preparations for the forthcoming general elections.

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POLITICS

2027: Tompolo Mobilises Support for Tinubu in Ogun, says Economy Stabilising 

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The Grand Patron of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Government Ekpemupolo, has called on the people of Ogun State to massively vote for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 to continue to enjoy the gains of his administration. 

He made the call during the inauguration of the state chapter of the movement and donation of 26 campaign vehicles and other materials in Abeokuta, on Friday.

 

Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, who was represented by the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services, Kestin Pondi, praised Tinubu for his bold policies which he noted, were making Nigeria attractive to investors again and stabilising the economy.

He pointed out that the bold reforms by the Tinubu administration have done away with perennial fuel queues in the country, and ensured more infrastructure development, regular payment of salaries and pensions among others.

“We have a president who said Nigeria must be better. Today, there is no more capital flight, investors are returning and the naira is stabilising.

“Go everywhere and tell them your son, your brother, your father must return to Aso Rock. Make them understand that he’s the best. The reforms have no doubt come with challenges but just like the challenges a woman in labour faces but rejoices at the birth of her child, we shall all be happy,” Tompolo said. 

Continuing, he noted that: “Every developed country has gone through this path Tinubu is taking us through and came out stronger. Nigeria will come out stronger with the policies and reforms of Tinubu. Let us keep faith with him. He means well for Nigeria.” 

Tompolo reiterated that the movement was in the state to work together with other campaign groups to ensure that the APC wins from top to bottom.

Also speaking, Governor Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, commended the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement for the support, which she noted, will complement all other campaign efforts.

She said Ogun was ready to support the president as a mark of appreciation for the many good things the state was enjoying as a result of his policies and reforms.

Speaking directly to the electorate, the governor said: “No matter how confident we are, we have to come out and vote. There is no room for complacency, no need to say it is a done deal because the deal can only be done at the polling booth. We have received a lot from the president because we supported him before. If we do it again, it means we appreciate him and we want more.” 

APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, said it was imperative to support Tinubu as “he has changed the narrative of our country.”

“For the first time since independence, we are seeing changes in all sectors of the economy. Things are changing for good, investors are coming back, international organisations have acknowledged the positive changes, the macro economy is doing well and the micro economy is picking up and will do better in no distant time” he stated. 

While pointing out that Tinubu is their own son and and they had resolved to give him no less than 2 million votes come January 2027, Adeola appreciated the Movement for the donation which he pointed out would aid the campaign.

National Coordinator of the Movement, Sunday Asuku, in a remark, advised the people to be at alert and not allow themselves to be deceived by the opposition who have nothing better to offer and do not mean well for the country.

“The right choice before Nigeria is Tinubu. With President Tinubu, we’re on track. Don’t allow anyone to use you to derail the journey. Come January 2027, vote for Asiwaju,” he said. 

Media Unit 

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