Governor Fintiri Strips Atiku Abubakar of “Waziri Adamawa” Title Amid Political Fallout
The decision, which also affects several other traditional titleholders, was disclosed in an official circular dated June 20, 2025.
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Governor Fintiri Strips Atiku Abubakar of “Waziri Adamawa” Title Amid Political Fallout
A political rift appears to be unfolding in Adamawa State as Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has revoked the prestigious traditional title of Waziri Adamawa from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The decision, which also affects several other traditional titleholders, was disclosed in an official circular dated June 20, 2025.
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The document was signed by Mrs. Adama Felicity Mamman, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Chieftaincy Affairs, under the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The move is part of sweeping changes to the traditional leadership structure in the state, following the creation of new chiefdoms by the Fintiri administration. According to the circular, only indigenes of a given chiefdom are now eligible to serve as Kingmakers or Council members within that chiefdom’s traditional council.
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“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 read in part.
It further specified that for the Adamawa Emirate Council, members must hail from specific districts, including Yola South, Yola North, Girei, Mayo-Belwa, Song, and Zumo. However, Atiku Abubakar is a native of Jada Local Government Area, which falls under the Ganye Chiefdom—outside the jurisdiction of the Adamawa Emirate Council.
This technical reclassification effectively bars him from holding the Waziri Adamawa title, traditionally recognized as the second highest-ranking title in the Emirate, subordinate only to the Lamido of Adamawa.
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The stripping of Atiku’s title is seen by many political observers as more than just an administrative adjustment—it may be the opening salvo in a deeper political feud between Governor Fintiri and the former Vice President, both prominent figures in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
As of press time, neither Atiku Abubakar nor his spokespersons have issued a formal response to the development.
The removal of the Waziri Adamawa title from one of Nigeria’s most recognizable political figures is expected to stir both traditional and political discourse in the coming days, with potential implications for the PDP’s power dynamics in the region.
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