Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has lost his traditional title as Waziri of the Adamawa Emirate after a new state directive ruled out non-indigenes from holding decision-making positions in traditional councils.
The move follows a circular dated June 19, signed by Adama Felicity Mamman, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Chieftaincy Affairs, instructing all emirates and chiefdoms to sack any council member or kingmaker who is not originally from their domains.
“Following the creation of new Chiefdoms in the State by the Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, I am directed to inform you that all Kingmakers and Council members in the state must be indigenes of their Chiefdoms,” the circular stated.
It continued, “For example, all Kingmakers and Council members from Adamawa Emirate Council must be indigenes of Yola South, Yola North, Girei, Mayo-Belwa, Song, and Zumo districts, while those of Mubi Emirate Council must be indigenes of Mubi South and Mubi North.”
Atiku, who is from Jada in the Ganye Emirate, does not fall within the Adamawa Emirate’s boundaries. His removal is a direct result of this new policy, which makes no exceptions for even the most senior traditional titles.
The circular was clear: “With the content of this circular, all Kingmakers and Council members who are not indigenes of the Chiefdoms have been relieved of their appointments.”
While honorary titles can be kept by non-indigenes, functional roles like that of Waziri—who ranks just below the Lamido—are affected by the new rules. Atiku was turbaned as the seventh Waziri of Adamawa in November 2018 by the Lamido, Muhammadu Barkindo.
The state government has now asked traditional councils to send in new lists of nominees who meet the new criteria.
When asked whether Atiku is affected, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fintiri, Humwashi Wonosikou, replied, “Alhaji Atiku Abubakar lives in Yola and is a registered voter there, so only the Lamido can determine his indigeneship status.”
He added that the policy wasn’t new but was only now being fully implemented. “The governor gave the directive when he presented the staff of office to the emirs and chiefs of the newly created emirates and chiefdoms earlier this year,” he said.
Explaining the rationale behind the directive, Wonosikou said, “The government felt it may create doubts about loyalty for a kingmaker (and council member) who is not an indigene of the traditional council of which he is a member.”
In December 2024, Governor Fintiri’s administration created seven new emirates and chiefdoms after the state assembly passed a law restructuring the traditional system. The number of emirates in the state rose to 14 as a result.
Despite the impact on Atiku, the governor’s spokesperson denied any political undertone. “There is no rift between them,” he said.
On internal tensions in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he noted, “He [Governor Fintiri] is committed to the forum’s positions on the crisis.”
Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, said late Tuesday that he had not been informed of the directive or its implications.
