From Ralph Omololu Agbana, Lokoja
Senator Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West, on Thursday engaged constituents of Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency in a town hall meeting in Kabba, headquarters of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area.
The meeting is part of Karimi’s ongoing consultations across the three federal constituencies in Kogi West. The aim, he said, is to present his scorecard in the 10th Senate, promote unity within the All Progressives Congress (APC), and mobilize support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and APC candidates in 2027.
Kogi West comprises Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu, Lokoja/Koton-Karfe and Yagba federal constituencies. A similar meeting for Yagba Federal Constituency was held in Isanlu, headquarters of Yagba East LGA, two weeks ago.
Addressing the gathering, Karimi reeled out interventions in education, water, roads and empowerment across the constituency. He said his focus remains service and not divisive politics within the APC in the state.
“I am here to speak for you as your servant representative, to defend and work for our people. All my actions are geared towards unity. I am not fighting any leader in the APC. I am for unity and for delivering Kogi West for our party,” he said.
The senator urged constituents to reciprocate President Tinubu’s commitments to Kogi State with massive votes for him and other APC candidates in 2027.
“President Tinubu has done so much for us in Kogi State, and in Kogi West in particular. The reward for the good work of Tinubu is to vote massively for him in 2027,” he declared.
*Scorecard Highlights*
Karimi said his office prioritized projects with direct impact on communities across the seven LGAs in the senatorial district.
He said he awarded scholarships to 1,000 students in Kogi West in 2024, and to 3,000 students across Kogi State in 2025. Of that number, no fewer than 300 students from Kabba/Bunu and Ijumu in public tertiary institutions benefited at N100,000 per student. He noted the bursaries were personally funded and not constituency projects.
In education, he facilitated the building of several schools in Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu and donated N10 million each to Anglican Church Nursery School, Iyara Day, Ayetoro Day, and Ekinrin-Adde Day. He also released N20 million of a pledged N50 million for Kabba Day.
On water, he said he provided solar-powered boreholes in 30 locations across the constituency.
For infrastructure, Karimi said he attracted about N2 billion for the repair of the Kabba-Egbe road and secured an additional N6 billion from the Minister of Works to return the contractor to site 11 years after work was abandoned.
He said he personally funded the reconstruction of the Pakuta Bridge linking Aiyegunle-Gbede, Kiri Kingdom, Kupa North/South, and parts of Niger State. The bridge, he noted, had collapsed and cut off economic activities for years.
He added that the ongoing construction of the Kabba-Ilorin road is aimed at improving transportation and reducing insecurity in the district.
On power and empowerment, Karimi listed the provision of transformers to communities and the empowerment of 50 cooperative societies in the federal constituency.
*Stakeholders Speak*
The town hall drew a large turnout of APC leaders, former lawmakers, traditional representatives, women and youth leaders from the two LGAs.
Present were APC leader in Kabba/Bunu, Elder Ben Olowodola; former council chairman, Moses Oluruleke; former lawmakers Samuel Meseko and Alhaji Ganiyu Salaudeen; representative of the Obaro of Kabba, Chief Adepegba; retired Colonel Dayo Abayomi; Hon. Yori Afolabi; former Ijumu council chairman, Fehintola Dada; and other stakeholders.
Elder Olowodola said the meeting was convened to create a direct channel for constituents to interact with the senator.
Chief Adepegba, representing the Obaro of Kabba, offered prayers for Karimi, President Tinubu and other APC candidates ahead of 2027.
Col. Abayomi (rtd) commended Karimi’s performance and said he deserved a second term. He urged APC members to remain united and mobilize for all APC candidates.
A representative of Ijumu LGA said the people had resolved to support Karimi for another term, citing his track record.
Former Kabba/Bunu council chairman Oluruleke also reaffirmed his support and called on voters to back Karimi’s re-election bid.
APC youth leader in Kabba/Bunu, Oyenibi Omojola Sunday, described those present as “grassrooters” and expressed confidence they would deliver both Karimi and President Tinubu in 2027.
Former lawmaker Elder Samuel Meseko congratulated Karimi on his primary election victory and said the support of APC leaders would strengthen his chances.
In his closing remarks, Karimi said elections are won at the grassroots, which is why he prioritizes regular engagement. He assured that he would continue to focus on projects and programs that improve the welfare and economic well-being of Kogi West.