Plateau State has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and one-time Senator who represented Plateau South senatorial district in the National Assembly, Gen. Jeremiah Timbuk Useni, died at the age of 81.
Family sources who confirmed the death of the former Bendel State military administrator, said he died on Thursday, January 23, after a protracted illness, three weeks to his 82nd birthday.
”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 said while speaking to journalists.
The state governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang who also confirmed the death of the retired Lieutenant General who was the military governor of the defunct Bendel State, now comprising Edo and Delta States, said the death of 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, is a huge loss not only to the state but to Nigeria in general.
In a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs (DOPPA), Gyang Bere, Mutfwang 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,” the governor said.
“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 Gen. Useni 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.
Useni was also the Plateau State PDP governorship candidate during the 2019 General Elections but lost to former Governor Simon Lalong, who narrowly beat him to clinch a second term of office.
The late career officer and politician was born on February.
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 over 20 years ago.
