Adamawa State government has removed the Lamido of Adamawa, Mustapha Barkindo, as the permanent chairman of the state council of chiefs and narrowed his emirate from eight local governments to three.
This was contained in a new law hurriedly passed by the Adamawa State Assembly within 48 hours.
The legislation, awaiting Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s assent, will also create additional first-class emirates and chiefdoms.
Before now, the Adamawa emirate covers Hong, Song, Gombi, Fufore, Girei, Yola North, Yola South, and Mayo-Belwa LGs.
However, the new law has balkanised the emirate and reduced it to just three local government areas of Girei, Jimeta, and Yola.
Governor Fintiri had earlier signed the District Creation Law 2024 on December 4, which created 83 new districts.
The chairmanship of the council will now rotate annually among all first-class emirs and chiefs in the state.
On Monday, Fintiri sent a bill to the State Assembly for the enactment of the Adamawa State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Bill. The assembly passed the bill for first and second readings and referred it to the House Committee on LG Affairs the same day. The committee presented its report on Tuesday, and the assembly passed the bill into law the same day.
The bill, among others, grants the governor powers to establish emirates and appoint or remove traditional rulers.
Mr Fintiri earlier said the new legislation is designed to improve governance and address grassroots security issues.
