By Abdulhameed M. Aliyu, Esq.
On 9th January, 2023, all roads led to the ancient city of Yola for the rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where Senator Aisha Dahiru Ahmed Binani is the Adamawa State APC gubernatorial flag bearer in the forthcoming 2023 election scheduled for 11th March, 2023.
The grand event was graced by President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) and other top political stalwarts within the National and State levels of the APC. Highlights of the event was the President’s open declaration that “….his presence at the ruling APC campaign rally was to ensure the election (victory) of the Governorship candidate of the Adamawa State, as the first elected female Governor in the Country.”
The President’s solemn declarative support for Sen. Binani at the Lamido of Adamawa’s Palace was thunderous as the entire social media spaces were agog with the news. Indeed, it will open (political) opportunities for women in the Country and send a signal to the world about Nigeria’s leadership maturity, said Mr. President.
In the history of Nigeria’s politics, needless to say that no female had successfully emerged as a Governor of a State in the Federation. In 2015, Late Senator Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan was declared the winner of the Taraba State Governorship election by the Election Tribunal, but that victory was short-lived as same was later upturned at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Indeed, this current political expedition of Sen. Binani presents itself as a hard task, bearing in mind the fact that Alhaji Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri who is the incumbent Governor of Adamawa State is also seeking re-election into the same office under the platform of the PDP. This is in addition to the fact that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who is the Presidential Candidate of the PDP is also from the same Adamawa State. Certainly all eyes are on Adamawa State political scheming, especially when it is widely believed that “Charity Begins At Home”.
For the record, Senator Binani is currently a Senator in the 9th Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing the good people of Adamawa Central Senatorial District and presently the Chairman, Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She was formerly a House of Representative member in the 7th Assembly (2011 – 2015) representing the good people of Yola North/Yola South/Girei Federal Constituency on the platform of the now opposition PDP. She is a holder of Higher National Diploma in Electrical Engineering at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. She defeated Mallam Nuhu Ribadu at the APC governorship ticket in Adamawa State.
In any case, it appears this is a positive payback time for Sen. Binani who has continued to impact greatly in the lives and wellbeing of the people of Adamawa State, hence the reason for the large and widespread support she currently enjoys. This is also in addition to the strong political waves of the Tinubu/Shettima presidential movement of the APC.
As the new political MAMA ADAMAWA of our time, we can only hope that all the supports so far evidenced for Sen. Binani are translated into massive votes and voters turnout on 11th March, 2023, that will coast Senator Binani to victory at the poll and such victory must be sustainable even at the Election Tribunal and beyond to be able to break Nigeria’s political record as First Elected Female Governor in Nigeria (FEFGN). Wishing you all the very best Sen. Aisha Dahiru Ahmed Binani!
Abdulhameed M. Aliyu, Esq.
An Abuja Based Legal Practitioner
EDITOR’S NOTE: Opinions Expressed In This Article Are Solely That Of The Author. They, In No Way, Represent The Editorial Position Of Theliberationnews.
