Why Senator Sunday Karimi Deserves Second Term and How It Balances Kogi West’s Political Equation »

By Engr. Ogbeni David Oni Sunday

In less than two years at the National Assembly, Senator Sunday Steve Karimi has proven that representation is not just about occupying a seat, it’s about delivering value, touching lives, and reshaping communities. His name now rings through Kogi West as one of the few lawmakers who brought tangible, people-centered development to the grassroots while maintaining a firm grip on national legislative duties.

From security to education, empowerment to infrastructure, Senator Karimi’s record speaks loudly. His decision to build a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Egbe, Yagba West, has drastically strengthened border security across the Kogi-Kwara-Ekiti corridor, a hotspot for cross-border crimes. In addition, his support for new police posts and logistics assistance to local security outfits has made Kogi West one of the safest senatorial zones in the state.

On the education front, Karimi’s ₦300 million scholarship scheme for tertiary students across Kogi State stands as one of the most ambitious educational interventions by any senator from the zone. Thousands of students have benefited, easing the burden of tuition and giving many the confidence to stay in school. Beyond that, he personally financed the transformation of Titcombe College, Egbe, his alma mater, by converting its old library into a modern computer-based testing centre powered by solar energy, an enduring investment in the next generation.

For women, his ₦100 million empowerment programme for 50 cooperative groups across the senatorial district has been a lifeline. Over 500 women have been trained and supported with startup capital, creating a ripple effect of small-scale entrepreneurship and self-reliance. Add to that his interventions in rural electrification, with transformers, boreholes, and streetlights spread across communities in Lokoja, Kogi, Kabba-Bunu, and Yagba, and you see a senator whose understanding of development is both broad and deep.

In the health sector, Senator Karimi has sponsored the construction of a ₦150 million community hospital in Kakanda, Lokoja LGA, while pushing for improved healthcare access in other rural areas.

In the Senate, Karimi has also distinguished himself. He sponsored the Central Bank of Nigeria (Amendment) Bill, a widely discussed proposal aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in monetary policy management. His legislative interests have spanned financial reform, anti-corruption frameworks, and economic inclusion, all pointing to a senator who understands governance beyond constituency politics.

Good representation should be rewarded with continuity, not disrupted by politics. Karimi’s re-election would allow him to consolidate ongoing projects, attract more federal presence to Kogi West, and leverage seniority for greater influence at the National Assembly. Development is a long-distance race, not a sprint, and the momentum he has built deserves room to mature into lasting gains for the people.

Beyond performance, there’s a subtle political logic that makes Karimi’s second term both fair and strategic. Kogi West’s Senate seat has historically rotated among its three major axes: Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu, Yagba, and Lokoja/Koto. The Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu bloc held it for twelve straight years through Senator Smart Adeyemi and Senator Dino Melaye. Karimi’s first term restored balance by moving it to the Yagba axis, and a second term would consolidate that fairness.

By 2031, when Karimi completes two terms, equity naturally points the Senate seat toward the Lokoja/Koto axis, which has only produced a senator in person of Senator Tunde Ogbeha in the current democratic dispensation, 1999-2007. Supporting Karimi, therefore, is not just about rewarding competence, it’s about maintaining political harmony and fairness within Kogi West’s tripod structure.

Senator Sunday Karimi’s leadership style is quiet but effective. He’s not one for empty noise or political drama. His achievements from scholarships to security installations are verifiable. In a political climate often marked by promises without proof, Karimi has shown that politics can still be about service, not self.

Kogi West deserves continued progress, and Karimi has set the template. His second term would not only deepen the gains already made but also set up a fair and peaceful rotation for the next phase of the district’s leadership.

In the end, performance should trump sentiment and by every measure, Senator Sunday Steve Karimi has earned a second term in the Nigerian Senate.

Engr. David Oni Sunday writes from Lokoja, Kogi State.