“Local Government Autonomy can Greatly Reduce Insecurity in Nigeria:” Says Chief Sunday Karimi.

Chief Sunday Karimi is an household’s name in Kogi politics. An astute politician whose touch of excellence has been felt in various empowerment schemes cutting across his senatorial districts and beyound. Currently he is the All Progressive Congress flag bearer for the Western Senatorial Districts of Kogi State. In this interview with newsmen, he speaks on his journey and mission to the senate.

Excerpts:

Question

Sir how to u want us to introduce you to the public?

Answer

My name is Karimi Sunday (Chief). I am from Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State and I had the opportunity of representing Yagba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives for eight years starting from 2011 to 2019.

Question

Sir, parties activities, campaign to be specific has started. You are aspiring to represent the people of Western Senatorial Districts at the senate. If you come on board, can you tell us what you hope to do differently sir?

Answer

My experience in the House of Representatives for eight years would come in handy. Though senate is a bit of a higher calling, but there is no much difference. If you look at our senatorial district now, I wouldn’t say the man there now is not doing his best; but there is a lot to do to improve the lot of our people.

Look at Kabba / Ilorin road, that road is almost cut off from the rest of the country. If it is not fixed within the next one year, there will be no access to our people. If you look at the patches they are putting year in year out in the budget for it, that will definitely not fixed the road. We have to look at getting it done through another means. It is going to be a government thing but I am looking at the option of what was done with Obajana Kabba road where Dangote was given a tax waiver.

So we are going to pursue that vigorously to make sure that the road is fixed. Not only that, infrastructural development all over the place must be considered too. We need to make our people to see the benefits of governance in our area and that would be my major focus. We need to make our people feel government the more. I mean the entire senatorial district.

There is a lot to do in our nation. When you see the security challenges we have in our nation today, it is alarming and my believe is that the structure of government we are operating is not working. I am one of those that believes we are operating too much of a centralized government. There must be devolution of power. Let the volume of power be added to the state and local government.

Let us change the revenue allocation formula to give more power, let strengthen state and local government so that some of these things that are being done by Federal Government would be ceded to the local government. The local government we are operating now is not working because the states are not allowing it to work. Let us say the reality. Let us have the local government to be autonomous so that it would attract more quality people in governance at the local government. So that the local government would be more strengthen and it will create employment for the youths roaming all over the streets without a job. I am one of the proponents of the devolution of power.

Question

Sir there have been series of agitations for candidate of Yagba extraction to emerge at the senate. Do you think the idea is mature for now?

Answer

Look at it my brother, Chief Tunde Ogbeha was in the senate for eight years. He represented us for eight years between 1999 and 2007. After that time, Kabba-Bunu / Ijumu would be there for sixteen years by next year. So in fact, Kabba shouldn’t even agitate for it now; but constitution allow anybody to contest. You have the right, just as I have it too. However, the same constitution allow for federal character. So if we are asking that Kogi West should be given an opportunity to Lugard House; it is also desirable that Yagba Federal Constituency should be given an opportunity to the next senate.

Read more: Kogi West Senate: APC flag-bearer, Karimi, advocates federalism for Nigeria.

Somebody from Yagba Federal Constituency should be given an opportunity to be the next senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District. Haven waited for twenty three years, this is our time, this is our turn.

Question

A little digression sir. Currently, Lokoja and its environs are being ravaged by flood. What is your move to ameliorate the situation?

Answer

Yes! I had issued out a press statement about it. I symphatise with our people and we are also calling on our colleagues in the national assembly to quickly come in and assist our people. Government cannot do it alone. I called on NEMA to quickly come in and assist our people. The state government cannot do it alone. This is a disaster issue, so government needs to wade in immediately to rescue the situation.

Question

Sir looking at Kogi West and her peculiarities, during you consultations, how would you rate your level of acceptance?

Answer

I want to tell you that the receptions have been massive and it is not just about my party APC. It cut across party’s divides . The support has been overwhelming and I believe God, this time around; Yagba Federal Constituency would get it.