Breaking: Ex-FCT Minister Useni dies at 81

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The late Sen. Gen. Jeremiah Useni.

By Pamson Musa

Sen. Jeremiah Useni, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Senator (PDP-Plateau South), is dead.

He died on Thursda after a protracted illness, about three weeks to his 82nd birthday.

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Family sources, who confirmed the death of Useni, a retired Lieutenant General, and former Military Governor of the defunct Bendel State, comprising Edo and Delta States, said he died in a French hospital, while undergoing treatment for the illness.

”Yes, it’s true, we lost Baba Mai Tuwo today, our ultimate mentor is gone, we’re going to miss him badly,” a family member, who craved anonymity, told our correspondent on Thursday night.

Also confirming the incident, Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, in a statement, said that Useni, who also served as Minister of Transport and Aviation and Quarter-Master General of the Nigerian Army, among many other appointments, during his military career, died on Thursday.

Mutfwang, in the statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPPA), Gyang Bere, described the death of Useni as a huge loss to Plateau, and urged his immediate family and the people of Plateau in general to take solace in God.

“On behalf of my family, the government, and the peace-loving people of Plateau, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to the President, the Armed Forces and Tarok nation over the loss of this distinguished elder statesman.

“I wish to also extend my condolences to his immediate family and relations; I call on them to take solace in God in this trying time,” he said.

The deceased General had upon retirement, ventured into politics, where he served as Deputy National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), National Chairman of the Democratic People’s Party, DPP, and was later elected as a senator on the platform of the PDP in 2015 and served until 2019.

The late Useni was also the Plateau State PDP governorship candidate during the 2019 General Elections but lost to former Gov Simon Lalong, who narrowly beat him to clinch a second term of office.

Periscope International reports that the late distinguished career officer and politician, was born on Feb. 16, 1943, in Pilgani village in his native Langtang Local Government Area.

He was the only child of his late parents, and is survived by a son and a daughter, grandchildren, and many relations.

His late wife and last son had died in a fatal plane crash on May 4, 2002.

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