In a Liberal democracy as practices in Nigeria, one most critical challenge is the choice of elected representatives.
A most critical Political decision by citizens of any nation has to do with political leadership recruitment process. Citizens are often confronted with the choice to make among numerous alternatives. This task became challenging because of the relationship between good governance and characters, personality traits, and quality of persons elected into positions of responsibilities.
It is obvious that many people in Kogi West are beginning to express their doubt over whether our people will be able to get their thinking on who represents the senatorial district at the upper legislative chamber right. This fears may not be unfounded given the past experience and Nigeria political climate.
However, It is the time for us to open our eyes, apply our ways and thought on to wisdom. We can not afford to gamble with our destiny. We need a man who have been tried, tested and can be trusted. A man who is not giving to making empty promises but who has a reference to his past stewardship.
Hon. Sunday Karimi no doubt fits into this categories of person. The account of his stewardship at the National Assembly speaks volumes. His performance between 2011 and 2019 as a member representing Yagba Federal Constituency affirms his capacity, competence and attested to the fact that equity runs in his blood.
Though not a noise maker, Karimi is unarguably the most popular candidate with wider acceptance across the length and breadth of Kogi West. He is an household name in Kogi State political parlance.
Hon. Karimi stands tall as a Philantropist, a socio crusader and a positive thinker who strives every moment of given opportunity to make his environment better than he met it.
With all sense of humility, it is a consensus opinion that Hon. Karimi Sunday raised the bar of standard assessment of legislative performance in Yagba Federal Constituency.
Without mincing words, supporting Hon. Karimi to become a senator will give a leverage to every community in Kogi West to feel the touch of government both in policy and physical presence.
With Hon. Karimi Sunday as a senator, Citizens and political actors in Kogi West are about to experience the best rewards system. This is a fact Karimi’s critiques can not denied. It can not be faulted. He is not a ‘used and dumped’ leader but a builder of men and community.
Hon. Karimi will change the face of political representation in Kogi West to the admiration of all.
It is an acknowledged truth that the duty of a responsible and effective Legislator is to Sponsor Bills and Motions on the Floor of the National Assembly in a bid to protect and promote the interest of the citizenry, develop the Nation and ensure peace and good governance.
The failure of the Nigeria governments to meet its responsibility has left us with the question of whether Nigeria, the so called Africa giant is taken her proper place in the committee of Nations.
The citizens in Nigeria today rather than encourage their elected representative to make good laws that will guarantee good governance and improve their wellbeing are expecting their legislators to assume the roles of executive arm by directly involved in building schools, provide water and other essential amenities.
However, it is the realisation of the enormous trust bestowed on him by the people of Yagba Federal Constituency while he held sway at the National Assembly between 2011and 2019, and the burden of responsibility to meet the yearnings and aspirations of his people that he worked harder with vigour to deliver the dividends of democracy to his constituents, changed the gory narratives of the past, repositioned and raising the bar of standard performance. The efforts which earned him second term(2015-2019) becoming the first Yagba man to be given such opportunity.
Hon. Karimi as an experience legislator and an exemplary leader will change the political landscape of Kogi West to such an enviable height.
KARIMI LAWMAKING AND LAW REFORM EFFORTS
Whereas, Section 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, vests in the National Assembly, the power to make laws for the peace good order and development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These Laws are to be made through the instrumentality of Bills and Motions passed on the Floor of the National Assembly.
As an efficient and effective legislator, Karimi showcases his legislative prowess and dexterity in his contributions to debates and other legislative assignments. The best indices for measuring the performance of a legislator is the quality of motions, bills and contribution to debates on the floor of the house. In all of these parameters, Hon. Karimi is adjudged quintessential, caught a niche for himself among his contemporaries given the huge commitment and capacity demonstrated in the years of his representation having proved himself beyond reasonable doubt that is an excellent legislator.
Among the motions and Bills sponsored by Hon. Sunday Karimi during his years in the National Assembly are:
NAME OF BILL AND OBJECTIVE OF THE BILL SPONSORED BY HON. STEVE SUNDAY KARIMI
1. EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCE BILL 2011
(i) Prevent the Indiscriminate use of Explosive Substance.
(ii) regulate and licence all kinds of explosive substances in Nigeria.
(iii) Promote internal Security and Peace.
2. WHISTLEBLOWER BILL 2011
(i) Protect persons/
patriots making disclosures of planned unlawful acts and prescribing how disclosures are to be made.
(ii) Help fight Crimes such as Corruption,
Terrorism and other organised Crimes.
(iii) Promote Community Policing and give effect to the Freedom of Information Act.
2. NATIONAL ROAD FUND BILL 2011
(i) Promote Road Sector and Infrastructural Development
(ii) Provide dedicated Fund for road Maintenance
3. NATIONAL GRAZING ROUTES AND GRAZING RESERVES BILL 2012
(i) Establish a Grazing Route and Reserve Commission.
(ii) Provide a dedicated Route for Grazing Cattle and Livestock from North to South to avoid incursion of Cattle in Crop Plantation of Farmers.
(iii) Preventing Conflicts that occur between Fulani Herdsman and Crop Farmers majorly in the Middle Belt Region.
(iv) Promote food sufficiency (Meat, dairy and crops).
(v) Revive Agric Sector and Agric Exports.
(vi) Promote Internal Security and Cohesion.
4. NATIONAL SYMBOLS BILL, 2013.
(I) Promote National Unity and Cohesion.
(II) Stimulate and induce respect for National Values.
(III) Prohibit Sectionalism and promote Nationalism.
(IV) Respect for National Symbols.
6. NIGERIAN INVESTMENT PROMOTION COUNCIL(AMENDMENT) BILL,2012
(i) Remove certain Clogs in the Wheel of Progress of NIPC in its bid to attract Foreign Direct Investment into Nigeria.
(ii) Promote Domestic Employment
(iii) Promote Gross National Product, Gross Domestic Product,
(iv) Promote National Income and Development
7. NATIONAL FARM RESERVE BILL 2012
(i) Promote Food Sufficiency in Nigeria.
(ii) Increase Agric Contribution to Export.
(iv) Increase Domestic Employment
(v) Increase Balance of Trade and Balance of Payment.
(vi) Promote National Income and achieve Macroeconomic Stability.
8. PROHIBITION OF INDISCIPLINE BILL 2012.
(I) Promotion of Discipline in all aspects of our National Life.
(II) Upholding National Values and ethics.
9. NATIONAL SECURITY AND AIR SURVEILLANCE BILL 2013
(i) Promote Internal Security.
(ii) Combat Terrorism and Pipeline Vandalism
10. CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (AMENDMENT) BILL 2013
(I) Ensure Independence of the Judiciary
(II) Uphold the Rule of Law Successfully passed.
11. MERCHANT SHIPPING (AMENDMENT)BILL 2013
(I) Ensure Maritime Safety and Security.
(II) Remove the clog in the Wheel of NIMASA to prosecute Maritime Offences.
(III) Minimize oil theft.
12. NIGERIAN MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY(AMENDMENT) BILL 2013
(I) Maritime Safety and Security.
(II) Remove the clog in the Wheel of NIMASA to prosecute Maritime Offences.
(II). Minimize oil theft.
13. FEDERAL HIGHWAYS AMENDMENT BILL
(I) Proscribe Driving on One Way on the Highway an Offence
(II) Promote safety on the Highway
14. CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ROLL-OVER BILL
(I) Ensure Effective Budget Utilisation and Performance.
(III) Roll-over Unspent appropriated Expenditure to next Fiscal Year.
(IV) Prevent abandoned Capital Projects.
(IV) Reduce Wastage and leakages in Public Finance.
SOME OF THE MOTIONS MOVED BY HON. STEVE SUNDAY KARIMI
1. MOTION ON THE URGENT NEED TO INVESTIGATE THE DISBURSEMENT AND UTILISATION OF BAIL-OUT FUNDS TO STATE GOVERNMENTS
2. A MOTION ON THE NEED TO CONSOLIDATE ON THE GAINS RECORDED IN THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE FORTHCOMING GUBERNATORIAL POLLS IN KOGI AND BAYELSA STATES
3. A MOTION ON URGENT NEED TO FIND A LASTING SOLUTION TO THE INCESSANT VIOLENCE, LAWLESSNESS, IMPUNITY AND CRIMINALITY BETWEEN CATTLE HERDSMEN AND LOCALS NATIONWIDE.
4. A MOTION ON THE PREVENTION AND PROHIBITION OF INDISCIPLINE ACTS IN NIGERIA AND A NEED TO REORIENTATE NIGERIANS AT ALL LEVELS TO EMBRACE THE VALUE OF DISCIPLINE, HARDWORKING AND INTEGRITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR NATIONAL LIFE.
5. MOTION OF URGENT NATIONAL IMPORTANCE MOTION ON THE ILLEGALITY IN REMOVAL OF SPEAKER OF THE KOGI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
6. MOTION OF URGENT NATIONAL IMPORTANCE, THE NEED TO ADDRESS THE HUNGER, HARDSHIP AND THE DEPRECIATING WELFARE OF MASSES ALL OVER NIGERIA.
7. MOTION ON THE NEED TO RESCUE THE NAIRA FROM CONTINUOUS FREE FALL.
8. MOTION ON THE NEED TO UNMASK THE PERPETRATORS OF GHOST WORKER SYNDICATES IN THE FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE.
9. MOTION ON THE MONETARY POLICY OF THE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA: UNDUE EXPLOITATION OF CITIZENS BY COMMERCIAL BANKS.
10. MOTION ON THE URGENT NEED TO CONDEMN AND STOP VOTE-BUYING DURING ELECTIONS.
11. MOTION ON THE NEED TO ENFORCE THE REGSTRATION OF MOTORCYCLES AND TRICYCLES ON ALL PUBLIC ROADS IN NIGERIA.
From the above therefore, it will not be out of place to say that Hon. Karimi Sunday Steve deserves the supports of lovers of performance and promoters of good governance.
With Sunday Karimi at the senate, a glorious Kogi West is set to debut.
