The Adamawa State Government has removed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from his traditional position as Waziri Adamawa, citing a new indigeneship policy that disqualifies non-indigenes from serving as kingmakers or council members in traditional institutions.
Atiku, who hails from Jada in the Ganye Emirate, was appointed the seventh Waziri of the Adamawa Emirate in November 2018 by the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo. The title placed him next in rank to the Lamido within the traditional hierarchy. However, the state government has issued a directive instructing all traditional rulers to remove kingmakers and council members who are not indigenes of the emirates or chiefdoms they serve. This directive was contained in a circular dated June 19, signed by Adama Felicity Mamman, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Chieftaincy Affairs.
Being from Jada LGA, this circular has first and foremost removed Atiku as a member of both the Adamawa Emirate Council and as a Kingmaker. He could have retained his title of Waziri, but since perforcefully in Adamawa Emirate the Waziri must be a member of the Emirate Council and Chairman Council of Kingmakers, the implication of the circular is that Atiku is also effectively removed as the Waziri. With Fintiri, wonders shall never end!
The circular, addressed to secretaries of the emirate and traditional councils, explained that only indigenes of specific local government areas are qualified to serve in their respective councils. For example, members of the Adamawa Emirate Council must be from Yola South, Yola North, Girei, Mayo-Belwa, Song, or Zumo districts, while those from Mubi Emirate must be from Mubi North or Mubi South.
It further clarified that individuals conferred only with honorary traditional titles may retain their titles, but cannot serve as kingmakers or council members unless they are indigenes of the area. Consequently, all non-indigene council members are to be removed, and new nominees submitted to the governor for approval.
The directive takes immediate effect.
Before becoming Waziri, Atiku held the title of Turaki Adamawa, both of which granted him membership in the Adamawa Emirate Council. With the new policy, Atiku’s position as Waziri is now in jeopardy, as he is not officially recognized as an indigene of the Adamawa Emirate under the government’s criteria.
When asked how the directive affects Atiku directly, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, responded that only the Lamido of Adamawa could confirm Atiku’s status as an indigene. He also noted that the directive was not new but had only now been formalized through the circular.
Wonosikou explained that the state government’s concern stemmed from the potential conflict of loyalty posed by non-indigenes serving as kingmakers in emirates where they do not belong by origin.
The governor had earlier created seven new emirates and chiefdoms following the passage of the “Adamawa State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) and Matters Incidental Thereto” law on December 10. This increased the total number of traditional councils in the state to 14.
Wonosikou also dismissed speculations about a political rift between Governor Fintiri and Atiku, calling such claims baseless. He affirmed that the governor remains committed to the collective stance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum amid the party’s internal crisis.
When contacted for comment, Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, said he was unaware of any directive affecting the former vice president.
