In a stunning political and traditional shape-up, the Adamawa State Government has officially stripped Nigeria’s former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of his revered title as Waziri Adamawa, citing – indigeneship – a move widely seen as a calculated effort to diminish his political influence in his home state.
The Waziri Adamawa title is the second highest in author after the Paramount ruler, the Lamido of Adamawa.
The circular noted that only indigenes of Yola South, Yola North, Gerei, Mayo-Belewa, Song, and Zuma districts would henceforth be eligible to serve as kingmakers or council members in Adamawa Emirate.
This automatically excludes Atiku, who hails from Jada Local Government Area, part of the Ganye chiefdom. The decision also affect other individual titleholders who falls outside the new indigeneship requirements.
The government maintains that the move is inline with administrative reforms tied to restructuring of traditional institutions.
Political observers have linked the timing to a growing rift between Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and Atiku Abubakar. Both figures were members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP during the 2023 elections but are now on opposing sides of emerging political requirement.
Atiku has recently been associated with talks involving political figures such as Peter Obi, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and Hajia Aishatu Binani in what is seen as an effort to build a new opposition coalition ahead of 2027 elections.
-9News Nigeria.
