Newly elected rookie senator, Binta Masi Garba representing Adamawa North believes quite confidently that she is the woman for the number three position in the country.
Even though she is unlikely to get the job owing to her rookie status in the senate, Madam Binta has served thrice in the House of Representative representing Kaduna South in Kaduna State and Michika/Madagali in Adamawa State and she was also the first female chairman of a major political party in the country.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, she said she had written to her colleagues in the Senate and other Nigerians on the need to support her bid as the next senate president and the first female senate president. Pointing out that she would work to ensure unity, transparency and openness in the senate if elected.
She said; “Apart from the fact that I’ve held several positions as a lawmaker in the House of Representatives, I am the first female chairperson of any public party in Nigeria, having been elected as the Adamawa State chapter’s chairperson of the APC in April last year. I am still holding that position and the unity I brought to the party brought about the successes we recorded in the recent general elections.
“As a delegate to the National Conference, I served in the committee on political restructuring and forms of
government. I know what Nigerians need when it comes to lawmaking and leadership. It’s time for all to support the female folks to be at the fore-front of decision making in Nigeria.”
All of her experience not withstanding, when the Senate chooses a leader, they look first to returning senators before considering first time senators whether or not they had served in the House of Representatives which would make her rank low among the list of men who had signified interest in the seat.
Amongst whom are Senator George Akume, Senator Bukola Saraki and Senator Ahmed Lawan from Benue, Kwara and Yobe States respectively.
