Adamawa’s female Senator Binta Masi Garba surprised by APC’s ‘automatic ticket’

The only female senator from the North in the National Assembly, Sen. Binta Masi Garba of Adamawa North Senatorial, said the ‘automatic ticket’ granted her by the All Progressives Congress to re-contest in 2019, came to her as a “big surprise”.

Masi, 51, who emerged unopposed, told newsmen in Yola Tuesday that her endorsement by the All Progressives Congress and delegates in the just concluded party primaries , was touching and an indication that her past efforts had been appreciated.

Masi said she was overwhelmed by the show of love and support she had been getting from the party and government of Gov. Muhammadu Bindow.

“The endorsement came as a big surprise to me because I never expected it; it shows that my stewardship as legislature is appreciated by my constituency.

“I feel humbled and honoured. It’s a new challenge put to me to do more for my constituency, which has suffered insurgency,” Masi said.

She also expressed her excitement with the emergence of another female senatorial candidate under APC in Adamawa, Hajiya Aishatu Ahmed.

Masi said that the emergence of Hajiya Ashatu Ahmed as the candidate of APC for Adamawa Central Senatorial district, making them two female APC candidates in Adamawa, was heart-warming.

“We need more women in the National Assembly,irrespective of political party. The plight of Nigerian women would bind us together to work for common interest,” Masi said.

Binta was born in Kaduna on 17 April, 1967. Her father was a soldier, who was once the driver of former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida.

Between 1975 and 1981, she attended Army Children School, Kaduna and went on study for O’Level at Government Day School, Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna South, between 1981 and 1987.

She then went to Kaduna Polytechnic and obtained Ordinary National Diploma in Marketing in 1990 and Higher National Diploma in 1997).

In 2004, while serving in the House of Representatives, she went to Harvard Kennedy School of Government – Harvard University (Public Financial Management).

She began her political career in Kaduna in 1999, and won election twice to represent Kaduna South in the House of Representatives. In 2007, she moved to her state of origin, Adamawa, for a third spell in the House of Representatives as a representative of Michika/Madagali constituency.

She however lost her fourth term bid in 2011. But in 2015, from being the first female chairman of a major political party, she won the senate seat to represent, Adamawa North.

NAN