Binta: I will become first female senate president

Binta Masi Garba, a senator-elect who will represent Adamawa north senatorial district on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next national assembly, says she has all it takes to become Nigeria’s first female senate president.

Speaking with the United Kingdom arm of her party, Binta, who is contesting with George Akume, former governor of Benue state and minority leader of the senate in the outgoing assembly as well as Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kwara state, said she plans to champion the rights of Nigerians, especially women, if elected by her fellow lawmakers.

“I will reduce poverty in Nigeria by setting legislative agenda such as free and compulsory schooling for the girl child,” she said.

“I have set three main legislative agenda, which I will pursue vigorously if elected. Education for the girl child, maternal care, which government must ensure is free from at least pregnancy to five years, and agriculture for women.”

APC is yet to zone the senate presidency slot to any region, but the north-east and north-central are in pole position. And Binta believes she has done enough to get a  look-in, saying: “I remain resolute that my antecedent and my pedigree are there.

“I can stand the heat and I am qualified to lead the senate so whatever is zoned for the north-eastern part of Nigeria by our great party, I am going to beat it out with whoever is interested.”

Asked if Nigerians are ready to have a female senate president, she said: “Absolutely Yes. This is the era of change and Nigerians are excited by my candidature.

“After going into the ‘jungle’ and one came out victorious and survived the entire trauma, is the person not qualified enough to vie for any position?”

Binta’s supporters have long argued that a win for her will give many women hope that they, too, can lead, and she herself said women could lead just like men, citing the achievements of the former British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher.

“Margaret Thatcher did well to positively impact the economy in the United Kingdom and today, even after passing on, she is still remembered globally for her great tenure,” she said, also praising Benazir Bhutto, who became the first female prime minister of Pakistan, in 1988.

“Our voices must be heard; people need to understand that we are all equal in the eyes of the law. The constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria is not biased towards gender, and it has given every single Nigerian the fundamental right to aspire.

“I have gone into the ‘jungle’ with other men and I came out victorious – at least [it was] the seating governor I contested with and God almighty was so faithful and merciful to me and I came out victorious – obviously I think I am better qualified and I have a lot of things that I can offer Nigerian people that will give them the confidence and reassurance that change indeed has come and has come to stay for good.

“If I can do well acting as the chair-person of a political party whilst in opposition and was able to deliver three senators, six house of representative members and a governor and we came out and elected the president-elect with 123,000 votes against the incumbent, then I think I am better qualified for the senate president post.”

She also promised to work with the president-elect to make Nigeria great again, if elected as the senate president.

“There are women who performed well and their integrity was intact and there are those that probably brought the standard and the integrity of women to ridicule where corruption has been the order of the day,” she said.

“I am not a corrupt person. I have been tested and tried and I think I can raise my head up that I am not among the women in quote.”