Adamawa State Government revokes Atiku Abubakar’s Waziri title under a new policy that restricts emirate titles to indigenes of specific districts

Adamawa revokes Atiku title in a move that has sparked widespread conversation about identity, tradition, and politics in Northern Nigeria.

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The state government, led by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has formally withdrawn the prestigious traditional title of Waziri Adamawa from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

This decision, outlined in an official circular dated 20 June 2025, was signed by Adama Felicity Mamman, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Chieftaincy Affairs.

The policy is part of a wider restructuring of the traditional institution, following the creation of several new chiefdoms across the state.

Under the new directive, only those indigenous to Yola South, Yola North, Girei, Mayo-Belwa, Song, and Zumo districts are eligible to hold emirate titles or serve on traditional councils in the Adamawa Emirate.

It is not personal. The restructuring is aimed at protecting the cultural integrity of each chiefdom.

Atiku, who hails from Jada Local Government Area within the Ganye Chiefdom, is therefore disqualified by the updated criteria.

The Waziri Adamawa is second only to the Lamido in the traditional hierarchy of the Adamawa Emirate.

Its revocation from such a nationally prominent figure underscores the state’s commitment to localised representation within its chieftaincy structure.

Although no direct statement has been issued by Atiku Abubakar or his aides, the development has drawn mixed reactions across political and traditional circles.

While some view it as a bureaucratic reorganisation aimed at cultural preservation, others interpret it as a political slight, given Atiku’s longstanding influence in the region.

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For now, the Adamawa Government maintains that the policy is designed to streamline traditional governance in accordance with cultural boundaries and emerging administrative needs.