As the political landscape of Kogi West shifts toward the next election cycle, a singular narrative is gaining traction across the hills of Okunland and the riverine communities of Lokoja and Koton-Karfe. For Senator Sunday Karimi, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Services, the conversation is no longer just about party loyalty—it is about the momentum of development versus the friction of elite politics.
Politics, at its core, is about who gets what, when, and how. Karimi has answered the “how” through aggressive infrastructural intervention. From the rehabilitation of neglected rural roads to the installation of solar-powered streetlights, his “Fresh Air” campaign has transitioned from a slogan to a series of visible blueprints.
Beyond concrete and asphalt, Karimi’s tenure has focused on the backbone of the local economy:
Agricultural Support: Distribution of fertilizers, seedlings, and processing equipment to local farmers.
Scholarship schemes for indigent students and vocational training are designed to move the constituency from a culture of “handouts” to a culture of “know-how.”
As a ranking member in the Red Chamber, his influence in the Senate Services Committee has placed Kogi West at the heart of National Assembly operations—a strategic advantage few first-termers achieve.
“A leader is measured not just by the height of his buildings, but by the number of people he pulls up with him.”
Despite this formidable resume, Karimi’s second-term bid is unfolding against a backdrop of significant political tension. There is a growing consensus that his path is being intentionally narrowed by certain “powers that be” within Kogi State.
The root of this friction is his unwavering stance on the “Kogi West for Governor” movement. For decades, the Okun nation and the Lokoja/Koto axis have voiced frustration over systematic political marginalization. By boldly advocating for the district to finally have its turn at Lugard House, Karimi has transitioned from a lawmaker to a symbol of the aspirations of a “traumatized” electorate. While popular at the grassroots level, this advocacy has ruffled feathers among the political elite, who favor the status quo.
In the Nigerian Senate, ranking is currency. A second-term Senator carries more weight, sits on more influential committees, and possesses the institutional memory to navigate the complex hallways of power in Abuja. For Kogi West, returning Karimi is a strategic move to ensure the zone remains a “Ranking Constituency,” capable of attracting larger federal projects.
Ultimately, the upcoming contest in Kogi West is shaping up to be a referendum on courage versus conformity. If the first term was about planting seeds and building structures, the second term will be about the harvest.
While tactical apathy from the political elite may seek to dampen his momentum, it may have inadvertently strengthened his bond with the masses. As a local community leader in Isanlu noted: “If Karimi is being targeted because he spoke up for our right to lead the state, then our response at the polls will be his vindication.”
The question remains: will the machinery of the elite triumph, or will the “will of the majority” prove that a record of service is the only endorsement that truly matters?
– Ponle Adeniyi
ponleadeniy457@gmail.com
