Adamawa Government Revokes Atiku’s Waziri Title Amid Traditional Council Restructuring…The Adamawa State Government has officially withdrawn the prestigious title of Waziri Adamawa from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, following a sweeping reorganization of traditional titles and emirate structures across the state.
The decision, which also affects several other prominent figures including the state governor himself, was announced by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri during the coronation ceremony of the newly installed Chief of Madagali.
The restructuring, according to Governor Fintiri, is part of an effort to realign traditional institutions with newly established emirates and chiefdoms, ensuring that all titles and appointments conform strictly to current district and community boundaries.
He explained that all existing traditional titles conferred under the previous Adamawa and Mubi emirate jurisdictions are now rendered invalid, and that each new emirate and chiefdom will determine its own council membership based on current boundaries.
Atiku Abubakar’s removal as Waziri Adamawa has sparked wide interest, not only due to his national prominence but also because of the historical weight the title carries in the state.
Traditionally, the Waziri holds a central advisory and leadership role in the Adamawa Emirate Council, often seen as the bridge between modern political structures and long-standing traditional systems.
Atiku, who hails from Jada in Adamawa, was bestowed the title by the Lamido of Adamawa, a position that had further deepened his ties with the traditional leadership and the people of the state.
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Governor Fintiri emphasized that the revocation is not targeted at individuals but rather forms part of a broader administrative reform aimed at sanitizing and modernizing the traditional governance system.
He noted that the reforms are necessary to promote inclusivity, ensure fairness, and reduce conflicts arising from overlapping authority or identity disputes, particularly as they relate to questions of indigeneity and local representation within the emirates.
Alongside Atiku, former Adamawa State Governor Boni Haruna was stripped of his title of Makama Mubi, while Governor Fintiri himself relinquished the traditional title of Sarki Yaki Mubi, which he had held under the old Mubi Emirate Council.
The governor’s action in giving up his own title was seen by many as a gesture of fairness and transparency in implementing the restructuring.
Despite the sweeping nature of the changes, the door remains open for those previously honored to be re-nominated under the new structure.
The governor explained that it is now the responsibility of the respective traditional councils to recommend individuals for new titles, in line with the laws governing traditional institutions in Adamawa State.
Once nominated, these individuals will still require the approval of the state governor to be officially reinstated or conferred with new roles.
There has yet to be an official response from Atiku Abubakar regarding the development.
However, political observers believe the move could stir controversy among traditional elites and supporters, particularly as Atiku remains a central figure in both Adamawa politics and national affairs.
The Lamido of Adamawa, as the custodian of the state’s traditional authority, retains the power to recommend new title holders, including the possibility of re-nominating Atiku and others affected by the restructuring.
Whether such nominations will be made — and approved — remains to be seen in the coming months.
The traditional restructuring marks a significant shift in how authority and heritage are managed within the state.
As modern governance continues to interact with longstanding cultural practices, Adamawa appears to be setting a new tone for how tradition and law can coexist in shaping identity, leadership, and legacy across Nigeria.
