May 4, 2018

Ahead of the 2019 General Elections, Sen. Binta Masi, representing of Adamawa North Senatorial District, has urged women to seek elective positions.

Masi made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at her Ward, Jigalambu, in Michika Local Government Area.

Masi is the only female senator from the North in the current Senate.

She enjoined women to shun collecting sugar and salt as bribe and instead, use their numerical strength and family connections to contest and vote for one another.

Masi observed that active participation of women was needed to fast track development.

“As Kofi Anan said, when you take away women from development you will never get it.

“We are not clamouring to take over from men but to work side by side with them.”

She noted that she was part of groups such as the `Women for Women Coalition’ working for women participation in governance which resulted in the insertion of the 35 per cent affirmative action in the constitution.

On her aspiration to re-contest in 2019, Binta said she had done a lot for her constituency, particularly in areas of empowerment of women and youths.

“I have secured appointment for about 200 youths and have brought the ongoing N800 million Federal Government embankment project on River Yedzaram that had posed a danger to the lives and properties of Mubi town residents.”

She urged her opponents to engage in issues-based campaign instead of sentiments and blackmail.

The senator also condemned the Tuesday twin suicide attacks in Mubi town mosque and market and called for more vigilance.