After enacting a new law that prohibits non-indigenous people from holding positions as kingmakers or members of traditional councils, the Adamawa State Government has revoked the traditional title of Wazirin Adamawa, which was previously held by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Muhammadu Barkindo, the Lamido of Adamawa, bestowed the title on Atiku in November 2018. Atiku is not an indigenous person of the Adamawa Emirate, where the Waziri title is bestowed, and is originally from Jada in the Ganye Emirate.
In a circular dated June 19, 2025, Adama Felicity Mamman, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Chieftaincy Affairs, signed the directive. The circular requires all traditional councils to promptly dismiss council members and kingmakers who are not native to their respective chiefdoms or emirates.
“The circular said:
Every member of the state’s Kingmakers and Council must be a native of their chiefdom. But regardless of their place of origin in the local administration, people with solely honorary traditional titles are free to keep their jobs.
The new regulations effectively make Atiku, who was promoted from Turakin Adamawa to Wazirin Adamawa, unable to continue serving on the Adamawa Emirate Council.
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Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, responded to questions by explaining that while the directive is not new, it is now being formally implemented. Even though Atiku has lived and registered to vote in Yola for a long time, he pointed out that only the Lamido of Adamawa can decide whether he is an indigenous person.
In addition, Wonosikou denied rumors of a political confrontation between Atiku and Governor Fintiri, stating that the policy is only administrative in nature. They are not at odds with one another. “The directive aims to ensure integrity and loyalty within traditional councils,” he stated.
This action comes after the Adamawa State House of Assembly passed a new chieftaincy law in December 2024, which led to the establishment of seven new emirates and chiefdoms. As a result, the state now has 14 traditional councils.
Paul Ibe, Atiku’s spokesperson, stated that he was not aware of any formal correspondence that would have affected the former vice president’s traditional title.
