Sola Bamidele to Yagba: Shun Outsiders’ Failed Divide-and-Rule Ploys
…..Senator Karimi’s Bold Move, Funds Army Base, Roads, education, Conquers Insecurity, Wins Hearts for APC
As Kogi West Senatorial District gears up for the 2027 polls, stakeholders in Yagba Federal Constituency are calling for urgent “housekeeping” to safeguard their hard-won representation. It is no longer news that Yagba, one of three federal constituencies in Kogi West, was excluded from the senatorial rotation since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 until a breakthrough in 2023. That year, Senator Sunday Steve Karimi from Yagba West Local Government Area clinched the seat on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, ending years of marginalisation. The rotation dynamics in Kogi West have been a sore point for decades, shaping the district’s political landscape.
Between 1999 and 2007, Senator Tunde Ogbeha from Lokoja/Koton-Karfe Federal Constituency served two terms, honourably stepping down to allow Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency’s turn. This paved the way for Senator Smart Adeyemi’s emergence in 2007, as Yagba elites conceded the slot despite fielding a strong contender in Hon. T.J. Faniyi. Adeyemi, however, defied the rotation convention by seeking a third term, leading to a fierce contest won by fellow Ijumu native, Senator Dino Melaye, in 2015. The seat then ping-ponged between Melaye and Adeyemi, with Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu holding it for a total of 16 years, sidelining Yagba entirely.
“Thank you for Investing in the of our Youth” – Dr. Fanisi Appreciates Sen. Karimi
By 2023, Yagba’s agitation for the senatorial slot reached fever pitch, but the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ignored it by zoning its ticket to T.J. Yusuf from Kabba. This misstep contributed to PDP’s crushing defeat in the National Assembly and presidential polls, especially against APC’s seasoned legislator, Sunday Steve Karimi. Since assuming office, Senator Karimi has won hearts among constituents and Senate elites with his proactive representation. He swiftly addressed creeping insecurity from the North by personally funding a Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base in Egbe, investing hundreds of millions in construction, equipment, and operational vehicles.
Education remains a priority for Karimi, who launched an annual bursary scheme, disbursing N100 million to 1,000 Kogi West indigenes at N100,000 each in 2023.In 2025, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, he expanded the programme to Kogi East and Central, with beneficiary lists set for imminent release. Karimi’s educational push includes classroom blocks in Odo Ape, Igbaruku, Ike Bunu, Kabba, and others, plus transforming a Koton-Karfe secondary school with over N1 billion in federal funds. He has donated transformers to rural communities, installed solar streetlights, and ensured at least one solar-powered borehole per ward across Kogi West’s seven local governments within his first two years.
No festive season passes without Karimi distributing seven trailer loads of rice to grassroots communities, alongside regular donations for ceremonies.
In a bold move for the abandoned Kabba-Mopa-Isanlu-Egbe-Ilorin Road, Karimi secured N2 billion from the 2025 Appropriation Act and added N1 billion personally. This advocacy prompted the Works Minister to allocate an extra N6 billion, with President Tinubu approving alternative funding, promising repairs once funds are released.Karimi’s oversight role shines through over 12 Bills and 15 Motions, including probing refinery turnaround contracts since 1999.
He sponsored a CBN Act amendment to ban foreign currency in domestic transactions, contributed to Electoral Act reforms, and pushed for state police in stable states.Additionally, he backed constitutional amendments for local government autonomy, echoing the Supreme Court ruling, while advocating devolution of power to grassroots levels.
Karimi has criticised state dominance over local funds, clashing with elites at Lugard House, Kogi Government House.
His boldest stance: declaring 2027 as Kogi West’s turn for governor, noting no native from the district has led Kogi State in over 34 years.In old Kwara State, Ebira’s Alhaji Adamu Attah governed from 1979-1983, but post-1999, Kogi East produced three governors for 16 years, followed by Yahaya Bello’s eight-year Ebira dominance from Kogi Central.
Bello’s camp now eyes another eight years via his brother or proxies, potentially until 2031, fuelling calls for equity.
Karimi’s “offences” include championing Kogi West’s gubernatorial shot and full local government financial autonomy to tackle grassroots poverty and insecurity.
Lugard House elites, labelling him a “betrayer” and “arrogant,” have shopped for replacements like ex-Rep Sam Aro or recycled Senator Smart Adeyemi.
They plan to flood the race with Yagba and Okun candidates to hand the ticket to a Lokoja/Kogi contender, cutting Yagba’s two-term tenure short.
Yagba must resist divide-and-rule tactics from outsiders who failed their own bids, cautioned political analyst Sola Bamidele.
In the words of Hubert Ogunde, “Yoruba ronu” – Yagba, ronu ooo! Proper housekeeping now ensures Yagba’s voice endures.
Sola Bamidele writes from Abuja
