- A moment of unity, a defence of Tinubu’s economic policies, and a grassroots mobilisation vision for 2027.
By Pastor Stanley Omoniyi Ajileye
In politics, significance is not always measured by the time spent at a location, but by the symbolism of the moment and the message it conveys. Such was the significance of the two minutes Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, Chairman of the Win With Tinubu (WWT) Grassroots Mobilisation Programmes, spent at Igala Unity Square in Anyigba, Kogi State, while leading his team on a grassroots mobilisation engagement.
Two minutes may appear insignificant, but at a location whose name represents unity, identity and collective aspiration, the moment carried a message beyond the clock. It symbolised recognition of the Igala nation and the importance of engaging its people in the political conversation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Igala Unity Square is more than a geographical landmark. It represents the ideals of shared heritage, collective identity and the need to find common ground despite political and social differences. Karimi’s brief stop at the square therefore provided a symbolic entry point into a broader engagement with the Igala people.
But the two minutes were only the beginning.
From the square, Senator Karimi led a mammoth crowd to the town hall meeting, where the scorecard of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration was presented. The transition from the square to the town hall was significant: the square represented unity and cultural identity, while the town hall provided the platform to defend the administration’s economic policies, explain its reform agenda and mobilise grassroots support for the President’s re-election.
At the town hall, Karimi took the audience through the rationale behind the removal of the petrol subsidy and other economic measures introduced by the Tinubu administration. He argued that the subsidy removal had freed substantial public resources that were being channelled to the states and local governments, creating opportunities for greater investment in infrastructure and public services.
His central message was that Nigerians should look beyond the immediate difficulties associated with subsidy removal and begin asking critical questions about how the increased allocations to the various tiers of government were being utilised.
According to the Senator, monthly allocations to states are now about ten times what they were before the removal of the petrol subsidy. He challenged citizens to ask their governors what they were doing with the additional resources and whether the funds were translating into tangible improvements in people’s lives.
For rural communities, this is a particularly important question. Increased government revenue should produce visible benefits, including better roads, accessible healthcare, improved education, potable water, agricultural support and other essential services.
Karimi also highlighted President Tinubu’s support for direct allocation to local governments, presenting it as an important step towards strengthening grassroots administration and bringing public resources closer to the people.
To reinforce his argument, he stated that no local government area in Kogi State receives less than ₦500 million in monthly allocations. He challenged residents to examine how their councils were spending these funds and to demand evidence of development in their communities.
The underlying argument was clear: while the Federal Government determines national economic policy, state and local governments must also be held accountable for the resources available to them. Increased allocations alone cannot guarantee development; transparency, prudent management and measurable results are equally essential.
This was a significant dimension of Karimi’s defence of Tinubu’s economic reforms. Rather than presenting the Federal Government as solely responsible for every development challenge, he urged citizens to scrutinise the performance of all tiers of government and insist that public revenue should improve their living conditions.
Nevertheless, the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians cannot be ignored. Rising food prices, transportation costs and household expenses continue to place pressure on families. The ultimate test of the reforms will be their ability to deliver sustainable economic improvement and make life more bearable for ordinary citizens.
For WWT, therefore, effective mobilisation requires more than communicating government achievements. It demands credible explanations of policy, honest engagement with public concerns and evidence that the promised benefits of reform are reaching the people.
The Igala nation occupies an important position in Kogi State’s political landscape. Its traditional institutions, community leaders, religious organisations, youth groups, women’s associations and grassroots networks provide important channels for political engagement. However, the Igala people are not a politically uniform bloc. Their support must be earned through dialogue, credibility and responsiveness to their expectations.
This is where the symbolism of Igala Unity Square becomes particularly relevant. Unity does not mean uniformity of opinion; it means recognising shared interests and creating opportunities for constructive engagement despite differences.
The WWT mobilisation initiative, under the leadership of Senator Karimi and Echocho, has an opportunity to build on this principle, extending its engagement from Anyigba to Dekina, Idah, Ankpa and other communities across Kogi State.
As Chairman of WWT and senator representing Kogi West, Karimi occupies a distinctive position in this mobilisation effort. His engagement at Igala Unity Square and the subsequent town hall brought together political representation, cultural recognition, economic policy communication and grassroots mobilisation.
The message is that political support should never be taken for granted. It must be sought through engagement, earned through credibility and sustained by connecting political promises with demonstrable results.
Karimi reminded the good people of Igala land, the relationship between President Tinubu and Late Prince AbubakarAudu, which Hon James Faleke has creditably sustained through his various act of generosity and inclusion.
For the Win With Tinubu Grassroots Mobilisation Programmes, the task ahead is to take the message beyond the square, engage communities across Igala land and the wider Kogi State, explain the administration’s policies responsibly, listen to citizens’ concerns and encourage informed participation in the democratic process ahead of 2027.
Two minutes at Igala Unity Square may have been brief, but their symbolism was significant. The town hall that followed provided the platform to defend Tinubu’s economic direction and challenge citizens to demand accountability from every tier of government. Together, the two engagements captured an essential principle of grassroots mobilisation: recognise the people, engage their concerns, explain the issues and earn their support.
– Pastor Ajileye is the State Program Secretary, Win With Tinubu Grassroot Mobilisation Program in Kogi State.
