The Adamawa State Government has officially revoked the prestigious traditional title of Waziri Adamawa held by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, citing a newly implemented indigeneship policy that affects leadership within the emirate council.
The decision was conveyed in a circular dated June 20, 2025, and signed by Mrs. Adama Felicity Mamman, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Chieftaincy Affairs.
According to the document, the directive is part of an ongoing restructuring of traditional institutions following the establishment of new chiefdoms under Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s administration.
Traditionally regarded as the second-highest position in the Adamawa Emirate after the Lamido, the Waziri Adamawa title is now subject to revised eligibility criteria.
The new policy stipulates that only persons indigenous to Yola North, Yola South, Girei, Mayo-Belwa, Song, and Zumo districts are qualified to hold emirate council positions or titles. Atiku, being a native of Jada Local Government Area—which belongs to the Ganye Chiefdom—is therefore disqualified.
The circular further clarified that the policy applies uniformly to all council members and traditional titleholders within emirate systems across Adamawa State. Consequently, several others whose ancestry falls outside the specified districts are also affected.
Although the state government maintains that the policy is strictly administrative, political observers have linked the action to escalating tensions between Governor Fintiri and Atiku Abubakar.
Both were influential figures in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 elections, but recent developments indicate a growing rift between them.
In recent months, Atiku has been associated with discussions involving prominent political figures such as Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Senator Aishatu Binani—sparking speculation about the formation of a new opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adding further controversy is a bill currently under consideration at the Adamawa State House of Assembly, which seeks to empower the governor to depose traditional rulers deemed unfit and directly appoint their replacements.
Critics argue that the proposed legislation could centralize excessive power in the hands of the state executive and undermine the independence of traditional institutions.
