Years of the Amazons: 5 Women Defining the Context and Colour of Adamawa's Politics

Daily Rendezvous 

The shape and Context of Adamawa' Politics have become charged and changed by the emergence of  some "superwomen" on the turf of the state political scene. The Nigerian political environment has been characterized by that of obvious marginalisation of women and the youth folk. Women have been heavily under-represented despite being statistically, the largest part of the Nigerian population, although there has been luad outcry for inclusuon of more women into political scene.

In Adamawa', that anomaly is changing, although one may not say it is a deliberately commissioned change. It seems as if in most cases, these few women, have through hard work, determination, and share force of will, bulldozed themselves onto the limelight and have taken their place on the political stage and would be writing their names as pacesetters on Adamawa' political scene come 2023.

News Rendezvous takes a look at these women and what they bring to the table heading into the 2023 political battle.

These women include:

1. Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress. (APC)

Sen. Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with on the scene of Adamawa politics and indeed in Nigeria after emerging the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa state defeating five other formidable male contestants.

It was a novel feat, especially on the stage of Nigerian politics where women hardly made it out of the primaries. 

Navigating the usually tumultuous internal politicking of the party system in Nigeria is something worth noting about the schemings, and political IQ of the woman who now wants to unseat the PDP in Adamawa state.

All eyes are on Binani, to see how she could mobilise voters to support her candidacy for the top seat of leadership in Adamawa state.

2. Hon. Hyellagiziya Naiwa Fakuta:

Hyellagiziya Naiwa Fakuta is current House of Representatives Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gunning to represent Gombi and Hong at the federal house of representatives.

Hon. Fakuta in her second try at the House of representatives seat for Hong and Gombi said she is better informed, better prepared and has gained a wealth of political acumen from her previous engagement.

Gaining valuable lessons from her last contest, the formidable female politician said "The odds are in her favour within the context of the under-representation of her constituency by the Abuja-based politicians who don't seem to care for the plight of the common Hong-Gombi person."

The ABU-bred chattered accountant said, women in Nigeria should be the ones that are trusted with power because of their innate caring nature which could result in the overall well-being of the Society.

Hon. Fakuta strongly called that Adamawa people should have no doubt trusting women in politics at all levels in Adamawa because Adamawa needs to make progress and things need to change from the politics as usual to an era of responsive governance and accountable leadership.

Fakuta said, "Nigerians have suffered enough in the hands of cruel and irresponsible politicians, the economy is bleeding, education is bleeding, citizens are not safe, money has not value in the hands of citizens because of high rate of inflation caused by a poor management of the country's resources ans economy. 

"It's time that Nigeria gets a better deal and women should be the alternative after years of men's misrule."

3. Hon. Kate Mamuno:

Kate Mamuno is the Seating House of Assembly member, and candidate of the PDP, running for the state house of Assembly representing Demsa in the 2023 general elections.

Hon. Mamuno, is undoubtedly formidable and has been holding her own since she bolted into office as the member representing Demsa local government at the Adamawa State House of Assembly (ADHA) in the 2019 general elections defeating an incumbent APC lawmaker.

Hon. Kate Mamuno has been an exemplary representation since emerging as the Member representing Demsa LGA where she has kept close contact and relationship with her constituents.As a true mother, she makes it a duty to fight for her people's rights and deliver relevant interventions to her people.

Mamuno, has been making a difference in her constituency and has presented a new model for people-oriented leadership and has made a strong case for why more women need to be in governance and why they should be holding political offices in government.

Mamuno is already in a pole position to be returned as she continues to show her outstanding leadership class and quality, showing by example and precepts, how people in position of leadership could make the difference in changing the narrative of bad governance that has so negatively pervaded the Nigerian society.

Watch out for Hon. Kate Mamuno in the 2023 general elections, she is the candidate to beat

4. Hon. Sodom T. Tayedi:

Hom. Sodom T. Tayedi, a former member of the state House of Assembly and a current candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) running for the Numan seat.

The Numan federation has been known for historically being the hub for political amazons as it has become a recurring decimal in every political dispensation for female politicians to emerge from the area. Tayedi, having been a member of the state house of Assembly in the past is already familiar with the workings and intrigues of the political landscape in Nigeria, Adamawa' and her constituency, Numan. The Numan constituency has been historically favourable to female politicians and that is an advantage Sodom holds tightly unto. And that advantage has been heightened by her background as the most friendly, down-to-earth, people-friendly and hard-working politician the area has ever seen.

Sodom, is unequivocally a grassroots politician and relates with her people on a personal level that many politician would find it difficult to recreate. One thing you cannot take away from Sodom is that she knows her people and her people knows her well and she knows exactly what to do to emerge winner in the 2023 polls in Adamawa. On the scale of candidates relationship to her people, she would beat the incumbent PDP's candidate by a hundred miles. This Amazon from Numan is ready to fly again, don't be surprised if she beats everyone to emerge the winner of the Numan House of Assembly race.

5. Jummai Zakka Gundiri.

Jummai Zakka Gundiri is another woman on the political scene of Adamawa', seeking to write her name in Gold comes 2023 general elections. Gundiri is a candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) seeking to take her place among top legislators in the state as she seeks to occupy the state house of Assembly seat for the Uba/Gaya constituency in Adamawa' state.

She is bold, determined, unafraid, and intellectually formidable. She brings to the table a wealth of experience, professionalism and foresight that could lead the house to intellectually engage the executive for the overall good of the state. Gundiri is among the leading ladies hoisting the flag of the female folk in the state.

One of her campaign slogan reads, "Jummai, Mai Takama da iKon Allah" This slogan attest to the source of her strength as she intends to focus her strength on issues of health, education, women and children welfare support, and human and capital development.

An issue-based politician, Mrs Zakka Gundiri is focused on transforming the life and livelihood of her constituents who have been deprived of the gains of democracy after decades of misrepresentation at the State House of Assembly.

Looking into the horoscope of 2023 elections in Adamawa', these women seem poised to break the jinx of political ostracization of women in Nigeria and in the state.