Adamawa govt denies targeting Atiku in new drive to reform traditional institution
Adamawa State government has in strong terms refuted news reports suggesting that its drive to reform the traditional institution was a backstage plan to target former vice president Atiku Abubakar.
The media space has been agog with reports indicating that Atiku has been stripped of his revered title of Waziri Adamawa who is the most senior council member in the emirate following a policy directive from the ministry of chieftaincy affairs.
Related news
How Fintiri’s new masterstroke denudes Atiku, others in Adamawa emirate
Adamawa journalists laud L-PRES over workshop on documentary production
Adamawa NUJ chair, Dedan accuses Fintiri’s associate, Dogo of threat to life
The news report may not be unconnected to the no love lost between Atiku and Fintiri who pursue divergent political goals ahead of the 2027 election.
In a press statement signed by Adamawa State commissioner of information and strategy Mr. James Iliya, the state government reiterated that the new reforms aimed to regularize the traditional institution to conform with the nuances of modernity.
“The Adamawa State Government wishes to categorically clarify that recent activities and reforms within the Traditional and Chieftaincy Affairs sector are not directed at any individual or group.
“These efforts are part of a broader strategy to strengthen and modernize traditional institutions in alignment with constitutional roles and cultural preservation.
“It has come to the government’s attention that certain narratives in the public space suggest that recent decisions concerning chieftaincy matters are politically motivated or aimed at specific persons.
“We firmly refute these claims. The government remains committed to upholding transparency, fairness, and due process in all traditional and administrative matters.
“Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has consistently emphasized the importance of preserving Adamawa’s rich cultural heritage while ensuring that traditional rulers operate within the framework of law and accountability.
“The ongoing reviews are intended to improve coordination, resolve long-standing disputes, and promote unity within the traditional institutions, not to marginalize or punish any individual. In the current Law under review, even a Yoruba or Ibo man can become a king maker or a council member in Adamawa State.
“Part of the current bill before the Adamawa State House of Assembly concerns the nomination of a substitute in the event of a Chief’s illness, while the other concerns the makeup of kingmakers. Prior to this review, all the legislations that govern Adamawa State’s traditional institutions were outdated until the current administration took office.
“We all recall the vacuum left when the late Murum Mbula became ill and went to seek medical treatment abroad.
“The council of chiefs had to use an authority they lacked to designate his younger brother as a placeholder until the king returned, which threw the entire chiefdom into disorder.
“The crisis was resolved only after the State Government’s timely intervention.
“This is also part of the state government’s decision to pursue a statute to regulate the chiefdom if necessary.
“The second law deals with the composition of the kingmakers.
“We are all aware that there are kingmakers, but there is no provision outlining the eligibility of council members, for example, as existed prior to this modification.
“A person from Mubi may be appointed as a kingmaker in the Adamawa emirate council despite not being a resident of the Adamawa emirate council’s local governments. This is one of the peculiarities that the new amendment tries to address.
“We have over 100 kingmakers ranging from Adamawa emirate to Mubi emirate to Ganye to Numan, among others, thus it is pointless to claim that the new rule is aimed at a specific individuals of Adamawa state.
“The traditional institution was established by the state parliament and is administered by the state government, with the governor’s role to enact laws that benefit the people of Adamawa.
“Finally, the letter written by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs is self-explanatory, which even an elementary school student can read and understand.
“Why the letter announce the new reforms? The letter further states that people who were given titles under the current setup will continue to hold them; however, their kingmaker duties must be renounced so that the true indigenes of the local governments concerned can be selected as kingmakers.
“We urge the public to disregard unfounded reports and instead support the government’s efforts to enhance the integrity and functionality of our traditional structures,” the statement said.
.
