Lt-General Jeremiah Useni, one-time Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, is dead.
His passage was announced by the Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Mr. Caleb Mutfwang.
The governor disclosed that General Useni died on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at the age of 82, following a protracted illness.
In a statement in Jos, Governor Mutfwang described Useni’s death as a tremendous loss not only to his immediate family but also to the Nigerian Armed Forces, Plateau State, and the entire Nigerian nation.
The Governor highlighted General Useni’s exemplary leadership and steadfast commitment to service, which left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s security and political landscape.
He noted that General Useni’s tireless efforts to promote peace and security, especially in Northern Nigeria and Plateau State, will forever be remembered.
Governor Mutfwang recounted the illustrious career of the late General, who served Nigeria with distinction in various capacities, including as Minister of Transport, Quarter-Master General of the Nigerian Army, and Minister of the FCT.
One of the earliest mourners of the late General was the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, who described the death of Lt. General Jeremiah Timbut Useni, who happened to be one of his predecessors, having served as FCT Minister from 1993 to 1998, as the “fall of one of the biggest trees in the forest of Nigeria”; adding that the retired (and now late) Army General would be missed by all.
On his part, former Governor of Abia State and Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Orji Uzor Kalu, expressed deep sorrow over the death of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Retired Lt General Jeremiah Useni.
In a statement, Senator Kalu described the late General as a patriotic leader who dedicated his life to the service of Nigeria; noting that the General’s passing is a monumental loss, not only to his immediate family but also to the Nigerian Armed Forces, Plateau State, and the nation at large.
ABOUT JERRY USENI (From Wikipedia):
Jeremiah Timbut Useni (16 February 1943 – 23 January 2025) was a Nigerian army lieutenant general, who served as minister responsible for the administration of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja under the Sani Abacha military junta. He served Nigeria in various capacities such as Minister for Transport and Quarter-Master General of the Nigeria Army. Useni also served as Deputy Chairman of one of the significant parties in Nigeria, the All Nigeria Peoples Party. He was elected Senator for the Plateau South constituency of Plateau State, Nigeria in the March 2015 national elections. Useni was running on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform.
Military service
Useni came to national limelight in Nigeria when he was appointed Military Governor of Nigeria’s defunct Bendel State in January 1984. In 1998, Useni then minister for the capital territory of Abuja, was rumored as a successor to General Sani Abacha. Useni stated that the decision to appoint Abdulsalami Abubakar instead was based on protocol. Ten years later, Useni insisted Abacha died a natural death, contrary to rumors that he died after eating a poisoned apple.
Political career
In August 2001, he was appointed head of a delegation from the Arewa Consultative Forum to meet and discuss common goals with Northern state governors and other leaders. In 2003, he was Deputy National Chairman, North for the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). In November 2004, he was locked in an internal ANPP struggle with Chief Donald Etiebet, the National Chairman.
In May 2006, he left the ANPP to become chairman of a new party, the Democratic People’s Party, taking with him other members of the progressive wing of the ANPP. However, he was suspended indefinitely in December 2008, for saying the death of Ken Saro-Wiwa was a national sacrifice. He was succeeded by Biodun Ogunbiyi, who criticized Useni’s poor leadership, resulting in failure to win any seats in the Senate or House of Representatives in the April 2007 elections. Useni ran for election as Senator for Plateau South in April 2011 on the DPP platform, but was defeated by Victor Lar of the PDP. He later on ran for election as Senator for Plateau South In 2015 under the People’s Democratic Party which he won.
Governorship run
In October 2018, Jeremiah Useni won the party primaries in the PDP to run for Office of the Governor of Plateau state under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party. He lost in the general election to incumbent Simon Lalong who polled 595, 582 votes to Useni’s 546, 813. Useni challenged the election of Simon Lalong at the Plateau State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on the ground that Lalong was ineligible to assume the position of Governor, having submitted a different certificate to the electoral umpire (INEC) bearing different name to that of the present Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong.
The panel of three justices Tribunal led by Justice Halima Salami struck out Useni’s petition affirming the election of Lalong for lack of substantial evidence to prove the discrepancy of names in the certificate Lalong submitted to INEC. Useni appealed the judgement of the tribunal at both Appeal Court and the Supreme Court but lost. The disappointing judgment from the courts ended his 2019 ambition to rule Plateau State.
