News
Senator Sunday Karimi’s Remarkable Progress in 200 Days

By Debo Alabi
For Senator Sunday Karimi who represents Kogi West, the fast approaching first two hundred days into the life of the 10th National Assembly have 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 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, and to those who knew Senator Karimi from his days in the college, he is not loquatious. But, beyond his softspokeness, carefully selecting his words, is the veneered venturesome boldness to aim at success;; accuracy in presentation of issues laced with facts and figures.
His daring willingness to take risks saw him through 12 unsuccessful attempts to represent his people in Yagba Federal Constituency, between 1999 and 2007. Yet, this son of a subsistence farmer with no history of rich background, rose from the three failed attempts to become the first Yagbaman to be elected twice to the House of Representatives.
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 solutions profferred.
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 and the sore taste of many graduates roaming the streets without employment to collapsed local government system.
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 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 major 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-Lafia 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”.
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 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”.
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.
Official statement from Karimi’s office in the National Assembly confirmed that successful candidates were 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.
Senator 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 by the Media Team explained further 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 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, his 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.
Compared to Yagba Federal Constituency, where he represented three local government areas, asked if he saw the larger Kogi West senatorial district as a burden, Karimi said he saw it as a challenge instead, but not one that is not insurmountable.
Debo Alabi writes from Lokoja
News
CUPP lampoon Reps over move to investigate Ugochinyere, others for visit to Fubara

**Calls for reversal of the ill-informed Move by the House of reps
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has Condemned the attempt by the House of Representatives to refer Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and other members to the Committee On Ethics for probe over their Solidarity Visit to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Fifty members of the House of Representatives hadq paid a solidarity visit to the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to celebrate his one year in office.
The lawmakers, who consist of members of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), Labour Party ( LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party ( NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) also include the spokesman of opposition coalition, in the House, Ikenga Ugochinyere..
Ugochinyere had explained on the sideline of the thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt that federal lawmakers were in Rivers to solidarilize with Fubara and celebrate with him on his one year of transformational leadership.
But the House had referred the Honourable members to the Committee on Ethics for disciplinary action over their visit
However, the chairman,
Media Committee of the
Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) Chief Barr. Chukwudi Ezeobika in a statement has tackled the leadership of the House for the action which he said clearly cast doubt on its integrity in the observance and or adherence to the laws which they enact/promulgate.
“Relying on the point of order/ privilege raised by Yusuf Gagdi of the All Progressives Congress, Plateau State to arrive at such decision is erroneous and grossly misleading.
“The House, by this very action, has impugned on the integrity and sacredness of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) especially Sections 39 and 40 which guarantee Freedom of Expression and the Press as well as that of Peaceful Assembly and Association respectively.
“We, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), hereby call on the leadership of the House of Representatives to, without further delay retract its ongoing steps in the purported probe of these Honourable members by its Ethics Committee and not engage in any act that may violate the fundamental rights of its members or any member of the public.
News
Kano Police counter reports that Emir Bayero will lead Jumma’t prayer

the Kano State Police Command has countered reports that Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero will lead Jumma’t Prayers at Kofar Kudu Central Mosque, Kano, where Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, Emir of Kano, leading prayer at the moment.
The reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the dethroned Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, have been laying claim to the throne, creating confusion in the city.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had dethroned Ado Bayero and asked him to hand over within 48 hours.
But the dethroned monarch in defiance returned to the town under military protection and has been operating from the mini palace since then.
In a statement by Abdullahi Kiyawa, spokesman of Kano Police Command, said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc further assured that all necessary security arrangements have been made for Alhaji Aminu Bayero to observe his Jummah Prayers in the Mosque where he lives at the Nasarawa Palace.
“The CP also assured that the Police and all other state security agencies will provide adequate security at the Palace where Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II is expected to observe his Jumma’at Prayers.
“Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore the false reports and misinformation circulating on social media and to go about their activities without fear of molestation or intimidation assuring that the Police will continue to provide the necessary security for ensuring that residents observe their Friday congressional prayers peacefully and without threats to their lives and property.”
The emirate tussle has continued to linger since the reinstatement of Sanusi and dissolution of the five emirates.
There have been cnflicting court orders for and against
Based on the conflicting orders, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, had summoned the head of the Federal High high Court and Kano Chief Judge.
The Police statement reads,
KANO STATE POLICE COMMAND
31ST MAY, 2024
The Kano State Police Command is hereby advising all residents to disregard the false information circulating on social media that Emir Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero will lead Jumma’t Prayers at Kofar Kudu Central Mosque, Kano.
2. The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc further assured that all necessary security arrangements have been made for Alhaji Aminu Bayero to observe his Jummah Prayers in the Mosque where he lives at the Nasarawa Palace.
3. The CP also assured that the Police and all other state security agencies will provide adequate security at the Palace where Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II is expected to observe his Jumma’at Prayers.
4. Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore the false reports and misinformation circulating on social media and to go about their activities without fear of molestation or intimidation assuring that the Police will continue to provide the necessary security for ensuring that residents observe their Friday congressional prayers peacefully and without threats to their lives and property.
SP ABDULLAHI HARUNA KIYAWA, ANIPR, MNISMA,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATONS OFFICER,
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, KANO STATE COMMAND.
News
Royal turbulence gets messier as emirs Sanusi II, Bayero move to hold prayer at Palace Mosque

As the royal turbulence continue to shake the foundation of the city of Kano, the ancient city is tension soaked as the two contending Emirs- the reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the dethroned Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, have indicated their determination to hold Jumaat prayers at the Palace Central Mosque.
A press statement issued Thursday night, signed by Danburan Kano, Munir Sanusi Bayero, spelt out the itinerary of the reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II to the Mosque to lead the Jumaat Prayers.
The statement explained that Emir Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, who resides in the Palace, and is closer to the contending Mosque, is expected to lead the two rakat Friday prayers.
Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II has been leading the Jumaat Prayers at the Palace Central Mosque as the Amir of the City, a statement explained.
The statement by Danburan invited Kano residents to come and listen to the sermon to be delivered by the Emir Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II.
However, another statement from an aide of the deposed Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero invited residents to join him at the Emir’s Palace Friday Mosque to observe the Juma’at prayer.
It stated that the movement to the Emir’s Palace Mosque starts at 12.30 pm.
However, the police are yet to comment on the development.
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