Speaking at the event, Karimi called for greater cooperation among the three senatorial districts of Kogi State, urging the Igala-Bassa people to support Tinubu and APC candidates in the next general elections.
He said his participation was intended to strengthen support for the President in Kogi East and insisted that the mobilisation effort was not designed to create divisions within the party.
Karimi also highlighted the electoral significance of Kogi East, arguing that the district’s voting strength made it important to the APC’s preparations for 2027. He pledged to continue engaging stakeholders in the area beyond the town hall meeting.
The senator recalled the political relationship between Tinubu and the late Prince Abubakar Audu, a former Kogi State governor, and referred to the continuing influence of the political network associated with Audu and Hon. James Abiodun Faleke.
According to Karimi, Faleke’s engagement with communities in Kogi East, alongside his own interventions across the state, had helped strengthen political relationships beyond individual senatorial districts.
He also referred to increased allocations to state and local governments under the Tinubu administration, arguing that public funds should translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives. He urged residents to assess the administration’s policies and record when making their political choices.
Before his address, Karimi asked participants to observe a minute of silence in honour of the late Prince Abubakar Audu and former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris.
Other speakers included retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Abutu Yaro, former Director-General of the National Productivity Centre Dr Kashim Akor, and Chief Sayo Dada, a leader of the Yoruba community in Dekina Local Government Area.
Ato Kolo Onalo, who also addressed the gathering, described Karimi as a bridge builder capable of connecting political stakeholders across Kogi East, Kogi Central and Kogi West.
Onalo cited the senator’s bursary programme for students from different parts of the state, saying the initiative had benefited students irrespective of their senatorial districts. He disclosed that he was among the beneficiaries.
He also referred to shuttle buses reportedly provided by Karimi for public transportation in Lokoja, saying the service was intended to ease commuters’ financial burden following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Onalo urged residents to examine how public resources were being used and acknowledged concerns over the cost of living. He said the town hall offered an opportunity to discuss the economic and social reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration since May 2023.
Musa Bakare, Chief Strategist for Media and Publicity of WWT in Kogi State, called on APC supporters to express their views through the ballot box in 2027. He pointed to road construction and other federal projects as issues for discussion when assessing the administration’s performance.
Bakare commended Karimi for travelling from Abuja to meet stakeholders in Kogi East and urged party members to work together rather than allow regional divisions to weaken their political relationships. He also acknowledged WWT state coordinator Sani Philips and other participants involved in the mobilisation effort.
In his remarks, retired AIG Abutu Yaro welcomed Karimi and the other dignitaries, describing the gathering as an opportunity to engage communities and seek support for Tinubu ahead of the elections. He praised the senator’s involvement in the mobilisation initiative and expressed hope that he would return for further engagements.
The meeting formed part of the WWT initiative’s broader grassroots outreach in Kogi State ahead of the 2027 polls. The organisers said the effort would continue through engagements with party members and community stakeholders across the state.
Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia
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