BY THEANALYSTMEDIA
When a representative enters office, people hope for tangible results rather than just promises. In the case of Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, his first term in the 10th National Assembly has already delivered a number of concrete interventions, infrastructural developments, and empowerment programs across education, security, healthcare, and women’s economic participation. Re-electing him would mean building on those gains rather than starting afresh. Below are key reasons why he should be given a second term.
STRONG CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT RECORD.
Karimi has committed large sums (over N1.5-2 billion) to a variety of projects across all seven local government areas of Kogi West.
Education infrastructure: He has invested in a student bursary scheme (initially in Kogi West, and more recently across Kogi State) that helps indigent students.
Computer-based testing (CBT) centres: He has built/equipped halls for CBT to help students avoid the delays and difficulties of having to travel far.
Health & general welfare: A community hospital in Kakanda, generous medical outreach, and rehabilitation of cold storage facilities for women traders.
These aren’t one-off gestures: many are ongoing, structured efforts intended to address longstanding infrastructural and service gaps in the area.
SECURITY IMPROVEMENT.
Security is a major concern for people in Kogi West (as with much of Nigeria), especially in border zones and in remote communities. Karimi’s work includes:
Constructing a Forward Operating Base (FOB) for the Nigerian military.
Supporting new police posts in strategic locations.
Having improved security infrastructure helps reduce the threat of banditry, kidnapping, and general insecurity—something which earlier regimes often neglected.
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN AND YOUTH.
Karimi has launched and/or funded programs that aim to give economic tools to ordinary people:
Disbursement of N100 million among 50 women’s cooperatives to grow small businesses, combined with business training (financial literacy, record keeping etc.).
Empowerment drives for artisans, market women, farmers etc., with inputs that match their local economic activities.
These enhance self-reliance, reduce dependency, and help reduce poverty especially in rural wards.
ACCESSIBILITY,PRESENCE, LISTING TO CONSTITUENTS.
A representative must not only deliver but also engage. On this Karimi has done well:
He holds ground-level meetings with artisans, farmers, market-women etc., listening to their needs.
There is also evidence of his wife, Mrs Stella Maris Karimi, playing a supportive and active role in coordinating outreach, especially with women’s groups.
This kind of accessibility helps ensure that projects respond to actual local priorities, and builds trust.
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY AND BROADER POLITICAL INFLUENCE.
While many constituents judge performance by visible infrastructure, legislative activity and ability to influence federal policy matter for bringing in resources and good governance:
Karimi is chairman of the Senate Committee on Senate Services, and participates in strategic national committees (Finance, Appropriations, Petroleum, Banking etc.) which gives him leverage.
He has sponsored bills, including one aimed at preserving the independence of key institutions (like the Central Bank) by barring its governor & deputies from partisan politics. Such bills reflect concern beyond immediate constituency projects.
This suggests he is not just a local figure but one capable of navigating national legislative leverage for Kogi West.
MOMENTUM, CONSISTENCY,AND CONTINUITY
Changing leadership every term often leads to fragmented projects, stalled ones, or re-planning. By re-electing Karimi:
Completed and ongoing projects can be brought to completion with less disruption.
His existing relationships with ministries, with federal agencies, and with local infrastructure (schools, hospitals, military) means that scaling up is possible.
Constituents already know what he has done; re-electing him gives them continuity and accountability (they can judge based on his past term).
ADVANTAGE OF RE-ELECTING SENATOR KARIMI
If re-elected, Karimi has the chance to:
Deepen education reform: more school renovations, more CBT centres, bursaries, perhaps more scholarship opportunities.
Expand in health: upgrading of primary health centres, specialised clinics, better ambulance or emergency services in remote wards.
Further strengthen security infrastructure and perhaps partner more in crisis response, disaster preparedness.
Expand infrastructural works: roads, bridges (like the Pakuta Bridge in Kabba-Bunu LGA which he has begun), better water scheme coverage, improved electricity (transformers, solar lighting etc.)
Potential criticisms / challenges (to be aware of)
To make a balanced case, it’s also necessary to note what some constituents may still expect or criticize:
Some projects are “in progress” or promised rather than delivered. People will watch follow-through.
Infrastructure often requires long-term maintenance; new constructions must be accompanied by plans for upkeep.
Given funding constraints, some communities may feel neglected or less prioritized; equitable distribution will need care.
Conclusion
Senator Sunday Steve Karimi has already shown by action that he can deliver on development, security, empowerment, and legislating with both conscience and competence. Re-electing him in 2027 would allow continuity of beneficial policies, scaling of interventions, and completion of key projects in Kogi West. For many constituents, the question is not whether change is needed—but whether to risk a restart, or build on the foundations already laid. On balance, there’s a strong case that re-election would bring more gains than disruption.
