Adamawa State government has said clarified that its Traditional and Chieftaincy Affairs policy is not targeted at any individual or group.
The new policy by the government requires that all kingmakers and traditional council members to be indigenes of the emirates or chiefdoms they represent.
Speaking before the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Commissioner for Information, James Iliya said the reforms which brought about the policy were part of efforts to strengthen and modernize traditional institutions in alignment with constitutional roles and cultural preservation.
He said the clarifications became necessary following narratives that the recent decisions concerning chieftaincy matters are politically motivated or aimed at specific persons.
Iliya reaffirmed that the government remains committed to upholding transparency, fairness, and due process in all traditional and administrative matters.
“The Adamawa State Government wishes to categorically clarify that recent activities and reforms within the Traditional and Chieftaincy Affairs sector are not directed at any individual or group,” he said.
He reiterated that Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri had consistently emphasized the importance of preserving Adamawa’s rich cultural heritage while ensuring that traditional rulers operate within the framework of law and accountability.
Iliya said the ongoing reviews were intended to improve coordination, resolve long-standing disputes, and promote unity within the traditional institutions, not to marginalize or punish any individual.
He noted that part of the current bill before the Adamawa State House of Assembly concerns the nomination of a substitute in the event of a Chief’s illness, while the other concerns the makeup of kingmakers.
The Commissioner said that prior to this review, all the legislations that govern Adamawa State’s traditional institutions were outdated until the current administration took office.