class_docstr: The GitLab handler implementation
docstr: Set up the connections required by the handler
  Returns:
      HandlerStatusResponse
code: def connect(self) -> StatusResponse:
      """Set up the connections required by the handler
      Returns:
          HandlerStatusResponse
      """
  
      connection_kwargs = {}
  
      if self.connection_data.get("api_key", None):
          connection_kwargs["private_token"] = self.connection_data[
              "api_key"
          ]
  
      self.connection = gitlab.Gitlab(**connection_kwargs)
      self.is_connected = True
  
      return self.connection
  
file_path: mindsdb/mindsdb/integrations/handlers/gitlab_handler/gitlab_handler.py
imports: import gitlab
  from mindsdb.integrations.handlers.gitlab_handler.gitlab_tables import GitlabIssuesTable, GitlabMergeRequestsTable
  from mindsdb.integrations.libs.api_handler import APIHandler
  from mindsdb.integrations.libs.response import HandlerStatusResponse
  from mindsdb.utilities import log
  from mindsdb_sql import parse_sql
label_desc: Use image node_id 2 for calling the GitlabHandler obj's underlying member method code with example usage: obj.connect() and returns: self