Fintiri announces creation of seven new emirates, chiefdoms in Adamawa

Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa, has announced the creation of seven new emirates and chiefdoms in the state.

Speaking at a statewide broadcast on Monday, Fintiri said the creation of the new emirates and chiefdoms was based on the Adamawa state Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law 2024.

The new emirates and chiefdoms are Hoba chiefdom with headquarters at Hong; Madagali chiefdom with headquarters at Gulak; Michika chiefdom with headquarters at Michika; Fufore emirate with headquarters at Fufore; Gombi chiefdom with headquarters at Gombi; Maiha emirate with headquarters at Maiha; and Yungur chiefdom with headquarters at Dumne.

The governor said the new legislation on appointment of chiefs will “reposition” the traditional institution.

“We have equally reappraised the value of our traditional institution and found it highly instrumental to peace building and a major partner in managing the ungoverned spaces in the state,” Fintiri said.

“Fellow citizens, this creation is already gazetted and now part of our statutory repository.

“This piece of legislation is expected to reposition the traditional institution and embolden it to smartly play better roles in our affairs; create more centres of dispute arbitration and resolution at the communal level; provide the right governance in all ungoverned spaces within our polity; form more hubs for local intelligence gathering to aid our security system and above all strengthen social cohesion and confer on our people more dignity and pride as citizens.”

THE CONTROVERSIAL LAW

Recently, Fintiri signed the Adamawa state Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law 2024.

The legislation empowers the governor to create additional emirates, and appoint or depose traditional rulers.

However, critics believed  the legislation was as an attempt to reduce the influence of Mustapha Barkindo, the Lamido of Adamawa, and cut the areas undet his control.

Prior to the enactment of the legislation, the governor signed the Adamawa state District Creation Law 2024, which stipulates the creation of the 83 new districts.

Owing to the controversy that trailed the district creation law, the house of assembly said the legislation was not designed to remove the Lamido of Adamawa as the chairman of the traditional council.