Source: Sunday Trust
ANALYSIS
Yola — On April 30 this year, Binta Masi Garba was elected chairman of Adamawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the party's state congress held at Ribadu Square in Yola
How she emerged
She emerged through consensus arrangement after her two male opponents; Mr. P.P Elisha and Rev. Iliya Agowa, voluntarily withdrew from the contest few hours before the election. Her election was endorsed through a voice vote in line with the provision of the party's constitution.
By her feat, Binta has become the first female politician to lead a state chapter of a registered political party in Nigeria, thereby portraying APC as gender-sensitive party.
The victory of the three-time member of the Federal House of Representatives is not surprising to some pundits because of her past electoral capabilities. She is the first politician who was elected for three consecutive terms in the House of Representatives from two different states of Kaduna and Adamawa.
She was elected as member representing Kaduna South Federal Constituency on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) between 1999 and 2007. When she later returned to Adamawa, her state of birth, she was again elected to represent Michika/ Madagali Federal Constituency between 2007 and 2011.
Since her election, the former legislator has been building bridges in political party to consolidate the unity among various camps and making peace overtures to aggrieved members.
Reactions to her election
Her political associates describe her as a loyal and dedicated party member and a true democrat who strives to promote internal democracy and good governance in the country. They believe in her ability to lead the party to electoral victory in the forth coming 2015 elections.
Her visits to major stakeholders like the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Murtala Nyako calmed the nerves of some aggrieved party supporters in opposing camps who had felt that they were marginalised during the congresses.
Governor Nyako was reported to have appealed to delegates to cast their votes for Binta after describing her as capable, committed and reliable leader needed by the APC. Her election was also welcomed by Atiku.
In an interview with Sunday Trust, Governor Nyako's spokesperson, Ahmad Sajoh highlighted the qualities that encouraged the party stakeholders in the state to support her.
"I think, generally, the position of party chairman requires somebody who has the grassroots appeal and capacity to reach out nationally. Binta Masi Garba spent 12 years in the House of Representatives. So, she has the experience and exposure at national frontier," he said.
Sajoh particularly hailed her resolve to lead an all-inclusive and transparent party executive and reach out to candidates who lost out at the ward, local government and state levels.
"We have regard for her efforts to bring people together and work for the interest of the party. Women are generally peace makers. We believe she is capable because of her exceptional abilities," he added.
In his statement after the state congress, the former Vice President, who hailed the peaceful conduct of the poll, described the election of Garba as the first-ever female state party chairperson "historic and exemplary". He voiced confidence in her ability to lead the party to total victory in all future elections in the state.
He also congratulated all those who emerged in the process, adding "the party is assured of my total support until we win all our elections."
He also lauded Governor Nyako and other leaders of the party for the high level of accommodation and the spirit of give-and-take that characterised the horse-trading that led to the emergence of the new state executive. "All is well, that ends well," he enthused.
Alhaji Abdurrazaq Namdas, a close associate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the running mate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) gubernatorial candidate during the 2012 election in Adamawa State said the emergence of Binta Masi represented a great leap in the APC's move towards wining the 2015 general elections.
According to him, APC has now got a team player at the helm of affairs in Adamawa State. The party is just overcoming internal wrangling among different camps. The election of Binta will consolidate the party's drive towards de-emphasizing the issue of camps.
Namdas said the new chairman was a politician who believed in dialogue and inclusiveness as basic ingredients in resolving political issues, stressing that Binta was on the right track to glorious tenure.
"Other states should emulate Adamawa. Here, we de-emphasize the issue of camps. We are APC. Let us ensure that factions do not exist. Women have for long been yearning for active participation in politics. This shows that Adamawa is responding to their calls. Let her give people opportunity to express themselves as she has been given," he stated.
He expressed confidence that more people from the PDP would be impressed by the new leadership style in APC, saying leadership is all about responding to the problems of party supporters in a positive way.
Namdas also voiced his belief that the APC was ready to bring change, calling on party stakeholders in all the 21 local government areas to support the new leadership by ensuring that its set goals geared towards wresting power at the national level and retaining the Adamawa State's Government House were achieved.
"Binta Masi is not only a politician, she also won election. To my knowledge, she is the only person in the whole country who won election in two different constituencies. Somebody with this credential must have enough exposure to lead a party. She knows the nittygritty of politics. What she needs is the support of stakeholders and party members in general," he added.
Her mission in APC
Speaking with journalists after her election, the new chairman thanked Governor Nyako and the former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and other delegates for their cooperation which led to the success of the congress.
She pledged to accommodate every member and promote internal democracy and rule of law in the party, adding that she would work to ensure the return of all aggrieved members who left the party.
She vowed to tackle 'godfathersim', saying "we shall make sure that the APC draws its strength from the people rather than from a few stakeholders who may reside in Abuja or Yola".
Garba's profile
Nicknamed 'the iron lady' in the political circles, Binta is said to have demonstrated rare fighting spirit and commitment in the pursuit of her goals and ideals as evident in the struggle for women empowerment and support for girl child education during her days in the National Assembly.
While in the House of Representatives, she was opportuned to head several committees, including Infrastructural Development; Appropriation; Child Development; Anti Corruption, Ethics and Values; Inter Parliamentary Relations and Women Affairs. At the regional level, she served as the Vice President, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (Africa Region).
She is one of the three delegates nominated by Adamawa State government to the on going National Conference.
In recognition of her leadership qualities, Binta was given Dame Publication Award, Nigerian Women Award, Jaycees International Young Persons Role Model Award, Action-Aid Outstanding Role Model Award because of her contribution to girl-child education in Nigeria, and National Association of Nigerian Students Award among others.
She was awarded doctorate degree by Smith Christian University in Miami, Florida in the United States for her outstanding contribution to Christian ministry.
Born to the family of Corporal Garba Tunba (retired) and Hajiya Hauwa Masi Garba Tunba, Binta obtained Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing from Kaduna Polytechnic. She started her working career with New Nigeria Newspapers before she resigned in 1998 to join politics. She is currently the Managing Director, Chief Executive of BGT International Limited, a private business firm in Nigeria. She is happily married with three children.
