How He Fell Out With ADAMAWA’s Gov. FINTIRI
There is a silent war going on between former vice president, Atiku Abubakar and Adamawa state governor, Umaru Fintiri. It is common knowledge MANY that these two were very close. They were political allies. They had the sort of political relationship that left of Fintiri’s contemporaries envious. No doubt, if you describe Atiku Abubakar as the political godfather of Ahmadu Fintiri, you can’t be wrong. But, going by recent developments, their once enviable relationship appears top have hit the rocks.
Political observers were all stunned last week when what could be described as a shocking political and traditional shake-up in Adamawa state took place. The Adamawa State Government officially stripped Atiku Abubakar, of his revered title as Waziri Adamawa, citing non-indigeneship—a move widely seen as a calculated effort to diminish his political influence in his home state.
The Waziri Adamawa is the second highest in authority after the paramount ruler, the Lamido of Adamawa.
The removal was disclosed in a circular dated June 20, 2025, and signed by Mrs. Adama Felicity Mamman, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Chieftaincy Affairs under the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The circular stated, “Following the creation of new Chiefdoms in the state by the Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, I am directed to inform you that all Kingmakers and Council members in the state must be indigenes of their Chiefdoms.
”E.g, all Kingmakers and Council members from Adamawa Emirate Council must be indigene of Yola South, Yola North, Girei, Mayo-Belwa, Song and Zumo Districts; while those of Mubi Emirate Council, must be indigene of Mubi North, Mubi South vis-à-vis all Emirates/Traditional councils in the state,” the circular stated.
This effectively disqualifies Atiku, who hails from Jada Local Government Area under the Ganye Chiefdom, from holding a title within the Adamawa Emirate Council.
But the timing and nature of the directive have sparked outrage and speculation, as political watchers interpret it as a deliberate public humiliation of Atiku by Governor Umaru Fintiri—his former political ally during the 2023 general elections.
It will be recalled that both men contested under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with Atiku running for President and Fintiri for governor. But how did these two political allies fell apart? How did things gt this awry between them? According to City People findings, their cold war didn’t start today. Political observers argue that they do not know when Atiku and Governor Fintiri last had a face-to-face meeting either at a festival or a solemn occasion such as: Sallah, naming ceremony or even at a funeral.
As the Wazirin Adamawa, the next in rank to the Lamido Adamawa, Atiku held the prestigious Waziri title which meant that, when the going was good between them, the duo regularly made public appearances together. But this appears to be in the past now.
The big questions now is, what could possibly have gone wrong? City People found out It was alleged in some quarters that the rift between the two political gladiators probably had its origins or became visible during the buildup to the PDP presidential primaries in 2022.
Political pundits in the state alleged that Governor Fintiri fell out with his political godfather when he chose to pitch his tent with then Rivers State Governor now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. And Wike was considered Atiku’s most formidable opponent in the race for the party’s sole presidential ticket.
The Adamawa State Governor, like a number of his colleagues, felt it would be in the party’s best interest to get a Southern candidate to fly the party’s flag since President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, was just leaving office after two terms of four years each.
This situation was further compounded by the fact that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had also zoned its Presidential ticket to the South in line with the general mood in the country. The desire of PDP members to have the same scenario play out in the party didn’t materialize as Atiku went on to win the primary.
While this situation festers, Governor Fintiri’s relationship with Wike has continued to blossom. As a demonstration of the growing healthy political relationship between Fintiri and Wike, the former invited the latter to serve as his guest of honor when he flagged off the construction of the first flyover in the subregion, built at the capital school in Yola, Adamawa State.
The FCT Minister was also in Yola for the flag off of the construction of another project, the Unity Square flyover. These events took place at a time the political differences between Atiku and Wike became a subject of public debate as both men engaged in a public display of mutual dislike for each other.
There is no gain saying that Wike and Atiku never again saw eye to eye since the PDP Presidential Primary. It was at this stage that most people who had suspected a political fall out between Fintiri and Atiku felt their worst fears had been confirmed.
Those in this school of thought argued that while Atiku and Wike had serious political differences, Governor Fintiri practically looked for occasions to invite Wike to be his guest in Government House Yola. Although Atiku and Fintiri’s aides have both denied the existence of a political feud between Adamawa’s two most powerful politicians, those familiar with the situation on ground see things differently.
They challenged those who had a contrary view to produce evidence of any face-to-face meeting between the two with the last three years.
But the evidence came out last week when Fintiri’s recent decision to balkanize the state with the creation of new Emirates and Chiefdoms in different parts of the state ultimately resulted in the stripping of Atiku of his his revered title of Adamawa Waziri.
The Governor’s decision has, as is to be expected irked some communities, while others celebrated the move.
Some people insinuated that the creation of more Emirates out of the present Adamawa Emirate was designed to whittle down Atiku’s political influence and reduce the former Vice President’s popularity as the most powerful traditional title holder in Adamawa Emirate.
When speculations gave rise to open complaints about the governor’s decision, the Adamawa state government issued a public statement denying the charge that the whole exercise was targeted at the former Vice President. The government argued that the creation of new Emirates and Chiefdoms was designed to give communities their rightful status.
As if this was not enough, the governor chose to pay the usual Eid el Fitr visit to the Emir of Fufore, a second-class Emir. The Emirate is one of the seven newly created chiefdoms. All of this took place while Atiku accompanied by friends and political associates from within and outside the State celebrated the festival with unprecedented fanfare.
Political observers in the state point out that in normal circumstances, the governor would not make himself unavailable considering the calibre of politicians and captains of industry who were in Atiku’s entourage.
With the 2027 election barely two years away and the gale of defections from the opposition parties into the ruling APC, speculations are rife that Governor Fintiri is set to join the defection train. .
Not a few are unhappy with the decision by the governor to strip Atiku of his title. A source resident in Yola and who has been following both men said, “To be honest, Governor Fintiri has betrayed Atiku Abubakar. During his first term, it was Atiku who nearly sponsored most of Fintiri’s campaign. However, after winning the election, Fintiri did nothing but collaborate with Nyeson Wike to undermine Atiku,” he said.
“Furthermore,” he’d continued. “during his second election, when the integrity of the election was at stake and there were attempts to declare his opponent, Binani, as the Governor of Adamawa, Governor Fintiri sought help from Atiku’s house. Atiku genuinely tried to assist him in resolving this issue. The question is, why didn’t Fintiri seek help from Nyeson Wike, who he initially joined forces with against Atiku?” he arguerd.
Back in June 2017, ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar was awarded the title of Waziri Adamawa in recognition of his contributions to the development of Nigeria and most importantly, Adamawa State.
Being one of the prominent sons of the state, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar used to be widely addressed as Turaki of Adamawa – a traditional title bestowed on him in 1982 by Adamawa’s traditional ruler, Alhaji Aliyu Mustafa, who later became his father-in-law.
Atiku was later awarded the chieftaincy title of the Waziri Adamawa in June 2017 and was officially turbaned in November 2018. The position of Waziri made the former vice president next to the Lamido of Adamawa in the hierarchy of the emirate.
This “promotion” opened way for his previous title of Turaki to be transferred to his son, Aliyu. But, as it is, the Waziri title of Atiku has been revoked and would no longer belong to him. Many observers are curious, what will become of the Atiku/Fintiri relationship from now on/ Will things get even frostier between them? Only time will tell.
(WALE LAWAL (08037209290)
