There seems to be an impending crisis in Adamawa State with the creation of additional emirates with first-class emirs by the State House of Assembly......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
The new bill when pass into law would remove the Lamido of Adamawa, Mustapha Barkindo, from his position as the permanent chairman of the Adamawa Council of Chiefs.
It would also significantly reduces Lamido’s influence, limiting his control from eight local government areas to just three: Girei, Jimeta, and Yola.
The new legislation, now awaiting Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s assent, came after the governor signed the District Creation Law 2024 on December 4, which established 83 new districts.
On Monday, Governor Fintiri submitted a request to the Assembly for the enactment of the Adamawa State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Bill.
The bill grants the governor authority to establish emirates and appoint or remove traditional rulers.
The bill received accelerated attention, passing its first and second readings on the same day.
Speaker Bathiya Wesley then referred the bill to the House Committee on Local Government Affairs, led by Kefas Calvin, for legislative review. The committee presented its report on Tuesday, and the Assembly passed the bill into law.
The chairmanship will rotate annually among all first-class emirs and chiefs.
Legislators explained that the rotational system aims to ensure fairness, equity, and balanced representation in traditional leadership.
Governor Fintiri, who earlier approved the district creation law during a private ceremony at the Government House, stated that the legislation is designed to improve governance and address grassroots security issues.
Previously, the Adamawa emirate encompassed Hong, Song, Gombi, Fufore, Girei, Yola North, Yola South, and Mayo-Belwa LGAs.
Similarly, the district restructuring reduces the scope of the Emir of Mubi, Abubakar Isa-Ahmadu, who has Michika, Madagali, Mubi North, Mubi South, and Maiha LGAs under him.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who holds the title of Waziri and serves as a senior kingmaker in the Adamawa emirate, will now exercise his traditional authority only within Girei, Jimeta, and Yola.
