80 Year Old Lamido Remains Adamawa Council Of Chiefs Chairman, With 3 Rotational District Councils Chairmanships Answerable To Him
The Oasis Reporters
December 18, 2024
In a bid to quell the raging controversy surrounding the chairmanship of the Adamawa State Council of Chiefs, the Adamawa State House of Assembly (ADHA) has issued a clarification, debunking reports that Lamido of Adamawa, HRH Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha, has been stripped of his esteemed position, according to a report by Emmanuel Kwada.
Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha (born 13 February 1944), was turbaned on 18 March 2010 as the traditional ruler with the title Lamido of Adamawa in Adamawa State, Nigeria according to Wikipedia. The ceremony followed the approval of the then state governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako who himself is believed to be Fulani, and was to be later impeached by the state House of Assembly.
“Disregard the misleading information that has been circulating in the media”
Hon. Musa Mahmud Kallamu, the chairman of the house standing committee on information, took to the podium during a press conference in Yola, urging the general public to disregard the “misleading information” that has been circulating in the media.
With unwavering conviction, Kallamu reaffirmed that Lamido Adamawa remains the chairman of the council of chiefs, with all other emirs and chiefs still answerable to him.
The confusion, Kallamu explained, arose from a gross misinterpretation of the provisions of the new districts and emirates bill. He painstakingly referenced Section 17 of the bill, which unequivocally establishes the Adamawa State council of chiefs, and Section 18, which outlines the council’s composition, with the Lamido of Adamawa explicitly designated as chairman.
The rotational chairmanship, which has been the subject of much speculation, applies exclusively to the three newly created zonal traditional councils in northern, southern, and central districts.
Kallamu further elucidated that the rotational chairmanship, which has been the subject of much speculation, applies exclusively to the three newly created zonal traditional councils in northern, southern, and central districts. These zonal councils, as stipulated in Section 29 (1) of the bill, will operate under a rotating chairmanship arrangement, but crucially, all chairmen will remain subordinate to the state chairman, who is none other than the Lamido of Adamawa.
By setting the records straight, the Adamawa State House of Assembly aims to alleviate the tensions sparked by misinformation and reaffirm Lamido’s position as chairman of the state council of chiefs.
This timely clarification serves as a testament to the assembly’s commitment to transparency and its unwavering dedication to upholding the truth.
Despite the energetically fluid spin by Mr. Kallamu, it seems that the governor of the state, Ahmadu Fintiri, has pretty much gotten what he and the larger citizens of the state want.
Lamido Barkindo is already in his 80s and perhaps can be left alone to continue as the State Chairman of traditional rulers and head of the triumvirate of chairmen until his retirement.
After that, there may be no need for another Chairman of chairmen again and the majority would reset the politics of Adamawa which may begin to be rotational amongst the three zones.
This will further dilute the previous Fulani centric leadership of the state that is gradually becoming Fulani alternating with other ethnic groups as just one body.
Adamawa state in Nigeria is home to over 78 ethnic groups and tribes, including:
Fulani: A dominant tribe that often lives as nomadic herders
Hausa: A trader population
Mumuye: A tribe in the south of the state
Kilba: A tribe in the north and central regions
Mafa: A tribe in the north
Marghi: A tribe in the north
Waga: A tribe in the north
Bachama: Also known as Bwatiye
Banso: Originally called the Nso, but was conquered by the Fulani in the 17th century
Gombi: A tribe and a local government area
Gude: A tribe found in Mubi
Gudu: A tribe found in the Song local government area
Yandang: A tribe located in Mayo-belwa in Adamawa state
Other tribes in Adamawa include:
Bali, Bata, Chamber, Kanuri, Michika, Sawa, Tangale, and Wurkun.
The Lamido is a Fulani, a nomadic tribe with a majority Muslim population and a minority Christian group, with significant members as atheists. The tribe is to be found mainly in the local areas that constitute Yola.
Southern Adamawa is mostly Christian who have struggled to cooperate amongst the multi ethnic population to constitute an effective bloc and be ahead in the politics of the largely agrarian state that suffers with vagrant children roaming the streets, looking and begging for food to eat.
