A socio-political organization, Yagba Action Group (YAG), has applauded Senator Sunday Karimi who is representing Kogi West Senatorial District for his performance in his first year in the red chamber. He was saluted for impacting segments of the three federal constituencies in the senatorial district.
YAG, a pressure group of professionals, urged the people of Kogi West to maintain positive outlook on the performances of the federal lawmakers representing the zone and assured that such optimism will lead to more success.
YAG at the weekend, released a statement titled “Senator Karimi: Beyond Today and Far From Tomorrow”.
In the statement signed by its General Coordinator Engr Toba Adebayo Belushi and Vice-Chairman, Mr Dickson Adeyanju, YAG counselled against outright condemnation by interested parties even when there is need to draw the senator’s attention and state a complaint.
It, however, noted that overall, Senator Karimi has not done badly while his stewardship has been felt across board.
Karimi just clocked one year as Senator, last June. And judging by his performance thus far, the group said no serving senator from Kogi State has done better.
YAG called for more support and prayers for the senator and assured of more flowbacks to the people in the months and years ahead.
The group stated thus: “Senator Karimi’s impactful 12 bills and motions in 12 months should serve as indices for measuring legislative performance and effectiveness. His constituents in Kogi West are proud to have a senator who is amongst the most influential in the 10th National Assembly”.
The group noted that Karimi’s previous two-term experience in the House of Representatives, has come very handy in his service to his people. YAG attested to Karimi’s considerable deployment of his influence not only to improve legislative businesses but also to the benefits of his constituency.
“Recently, two of Karimi’s Kogi West constituents were appointed aides in the offices of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, courtesy of his goodwill.
“Through Karimi’s relentless engagement with the Minister of Works, David Umahi, the serially neglected Kabba – Egbe -Ilorin road in the last one year has received priority attention. His efforts have resuscitated previous advocacies on the same subject. The significant ongoing repair work on the road, according to Karimi, will be completed in the next one year. This will mitigate the drudgery and pain of commuting on that major federal road which directly impacts the lives and livelihoods of thousands of home-based people of Kogi West.
“In addition, Senator Karimi has processed a significant number of placements and employment opportunities for Kogi West constituents into military, para-military, specialized government agencies and departments in the last one year. Several subsistence entrepreneurs have been given financial support to start and grow their businesses. The Kogi West parliamentarian has also opened an admission portal for applicants culminating in increasing numbers of students admitted into various higher learning institutions, including the police academy.
“To stem the tide of insecurity in the zone, Karimi is personally financing the construction of a military forwarding base as we speak. Sited at the Kogi/Kwara state border on the Egbe/Eruku area, the facility will serve security personnel who will be deployed to maintain security in the area.
“To lessen the prevailing economic burden on his people, Karimi procured a trailer-load of 50kg rice and 700kg of Semovita for distribution to the 85 wards of Kogi West. The yearly N100m bursary to students of higher learning across seven local governments is expected to take off in August, 2024. The scheme is aimed at alleviating the burden of tuition fees off the backs of parents.”
Reacting to reports credited to a group which claimed Kabba axis of Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency has been neglected by the senator, YAG noted that the youths have a right to draw attention to any perceived inadequacy, especially when they feel their part of the constituency deserves more than they got and not6 to resort to outright condemnation and hate speeches.
“On behalf of Distinguished Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, YAG is using this medium to appreciate the good and wonderful people of Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency of Kogi State for their love, commitment, determination and unwavering care that Senator Karimi has enjoyed from them in the last one year. Senator Karimi has demonstrated a representation that is unparalleled in the anal of the history of Kogi West. Those who have assembled these flawed and unsubstantiated claims, know that they are not speaking the mouths and minds of their leaders in Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency. The Senator has distributed 750 bags of 50kg rice on two occasions and 750 bags of semolina for distribution across the 15 electoral wards of Kabba-Bunu local government area. The Senator also facilitated the installation of solar panel street lights along the Kabba Central Market sourced from Nigeria Port Authority (NPA). The project has since been delivered.
“From findings, there is indeed a committee of eminent personalities from Kogi West Senatorial District to manage the 100 million Naira scholarship instituted by the Distinguished Senator Karimi. However, to ward off pressure from them, the names of the members have been kept away from the public. The Committee is working assiduously to meet the timeline given to them by the Senator. Senator Karimi is not the kind of character that the faceless group is portraying him. It is important for the general public to note that Senator Karimi takes the mandate given to him seriously and he is not the type that discriminates against any part of his Senatorial district. Beyond those claims, there are underlining struggles to make a point and that point is to the extent that whatever Senator Karimi has done, it must be ignored. That is not criticism but outright condemnation, which is not in consistency with our democracy. Karimi has never claimed a monopoly of the problems of Kogi West and he has never presented to be the sole provider of the solution. He has, however partnered with stakeholders and party leaders in that Federal Constituency in addressing the issues that affect them.The Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu people not only love and appreciate Senator Karimi, they have keyed into his modern representation, where communities freely approach him and present their needs to him. He has not only listened to them, but has practically demonstrated that to that federal constituency and two others with the amenities we enjoy in communities and very many of them, where these amenities are located”.
Noting that it is public knowledge that the National Assembly has extended the implementation of the capital budget for 2023 to December 2024, YAG assured the people of the Senatorial District that Karimi’s tenure will be impactful because he means well and attaches importance to every segment of the Senatorial district, stressing that he is working with all stakeholders hence no part will be left behind in the distribution of the dividends of democracy.
