YOLA, Adamawa State – June 25, 2025 – Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reportedly been stripped of his prestigious traditional title as Wazirin Adamawa, following a new directive issued by the Adamawa State Government. The development stems from a circular dated June 19, 2025, which mandates that all kingmakers and council members within the state’s emirates and chiefdoms must be indigenes of their respective traditional jurisdictions.
Atiku Abubakar was turbaned as the seventh Waziri of the Adamawa Emirate in November 2018 by the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo, a position that placed him as the second-highest authority in the Emirate, next only to the Lamido. However, his indigene status in Jada, located within the Ganye Emirate, means he does not meet the new criteria for holding a kingmaker or council member position within the Adamawa Emirate Council.
The circular, signed by Adama Felicity Mamman, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Chieftaincy Affairs, and addressed to the secretaries of the Emirates/Traditional Councils, clearly outlines the new policy. It states: “Following the creation of new Chiefdoms in the State by the Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umar Fintiri, I am directed to inform you that all Kingmakers and Council members in the state must be indigene (sic) of their Chiefdoms, e.g. all Kingmakers and Council members from Adamawa Emirate Council must be indigene (sic) of Yola South, Yola North, Girei, Mayo-Belwa, Song and Zumo districts, while those of Mubi Emirate Council must be indigene (sic) of Mubi South and Mubi North, Vis-a-vis all Emirates/Traditional Councils in the State.”
The circular further clarifies that “those appointed or conferred with Only Traditional titles are to maintain their status regardless of their Local Government of indigene (sic). With the content of this Circular, all Kingmakers and Council members who are not indigenes of the Chiefdoms have been relieved of their appointments.” Councils have been directed to submit lists of newly nominated kingmakers and council members to the Governor for approval.
While the directive specifically exempts those holding “Only Traditional titles” from the indigene requirement, Atiku Abubakar’s role as Waziri Adamawa was also associated with his membership in the Adamawa Emirate Council, effectively making him a kingmaker. This dual status appears to be the basis for his removal under the new policy.
The Adamawa State Government has maintained that this directive is part of an ongoing administrative restructuring of traditional institutions, particularly following the creation of new chiefdoms by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri. Political observers, however, are closely watching the development, with some linking the timing to potential political realignments and a reported growing rift between Governor Fintiri and the former Vice President.
