The Adamawa State House of Assembly has passed a bill that empowers the Governor to create additional emirates, appoint or depose traditional rulers in the State.

The Governor in a letter to the lawmakers on Monday requested the passage of a bill for a law to provide for the Adamawa State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) and matters incidental thereto.

The bill was passed after an accelerated hearing on Monday and by Tuesday, the Speaker of the Assembly, Bathiya Wesley referred the bill to the House Committee on Local Government Affairs for legislative action.

The speaker further directed the committee to submit its report on the next legislative day.

The new emirate law if assented by the Governor, stripes the Lamido of Adamawa, Mustapha Barkindo, of his title of permanent chairman of the Adamawa Council of Chiefs.

It also weakens his influence by reducing the local government areas under his control from eight to three.

The law says the chairmanship seat once held permanently by Barkindo will now rotate annually among all the first-class emirs and chiefs.

The lawmakers said the rotational chairmanship would promote fairness, equity and quality representation in traditional leadership.

The governor had on 4 December assented to the state’s district creation law at an exclusive ceremony at the Government House.

He said the new law was aimed at enhancing governance and addressing security challenges at the grassroots level.

The Adamawa emirate covered Hong, Song, Gombi, Fufore, Girei, Yola North, Yola South, and Mayo-Belwa.

Under the district creation law, it is now left with Girei, Jimeta and Yola.

Like the Lamido, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who holds the title of Waziri and is a senior kingmaker in the Adamawa emirate, will now exercise emirate authority only in Girei Jimeta and Yola.

The district creation law also whittles down the influence of the Emir of Mubi, Abubakar Isa-Ahmadu, who has Michika, Madagali, Mubi North, Mubi South, and Maiha under him.