Useni: A come-back bid after 34yrs

His nickname during his heydays was Jerry Boy. He is now 75, but Senator Jeremiah Useni is not quitting the scene anytime soon. WALE ELEGBEDE writes on the curious 2019 governorship ambition of the retired army general in Plateau State

Nigeria and Botswana are both African countries. While Nigeria is in West Africa, Botswana is situated in the southern part of the continent. Expectedly, similarities and differences abound between both countries.


One of the incredible differences is in leadership recruitment especially when it comes to acuity on age bar adopted. Early this month, both countries manifested their perception of leadership and age. Whilst 30-year-old Miss Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, who holds a Masters Degree in Economics, was appointed to lead Bostwana’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, a 75-year-old army retired general, Jeremiah Useni, who is presently a senator, declared his bid to run for the governorship seat of his state – Plateau. Although there have been insinuations about Useni’s governorship ambition, many waved it aside in the light of the generational shift ambiance in the country.

But like a general that he is, the lawmaker stormed the Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and formally declared his intentions to vie for the office.

One of the many things that colour Nigeria’s political landscape is having the old folks at the helms of affairs, and quite unfortunately, they are not ready to leave the stage yet.

Making his declaration at the party’s state secretariat in Jos, Useni said his principal focus is to restore peace on the Plateau. “I want to restore peace and justice to Plateau. I want to restore unity, love, dignity, and prosperity to Plateau.



Notable among positions he occupied include Chairman, Nigerian Railway Corporation; Military Administrator, old Bendel State; first Commandant, Nigerian War college; Minister, Federal Capital Territory; Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum; Deputy National Chairman ( north) All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP); Chairman and financier, Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and now a member of the upper chamber of the National Assembly. Useni, who was an active player in the July 1966 counter-coup, is said to have joined the Nigerian Army at the age of 14.

Another enraged social media user who is a prolific teacher and writer, Alex Ogundadegbe, wrote: “Jerry Useni, 75, wants to be governor in Plateau State. If you are 40 today, you were three when he was military governor in Bendel State.” Most young Nigerians appear miffed over the ambition ex- minister of the Federal Capital Territory especially because he became the military administrator of Bendel State (now Edo and Delta states) at the age of 41 – almost 34 years ago. Aside from that Useni has presided over important and juicy positions in the country from a very young age.

For those who know Useni, he doesn’t plant where he won’t reap. He doesn’t labour in vain. Since he bestrode the nation’s consciousness when he was appointed military governor in 1984, he has been an active player in the narrative of the country, be it the military or civilian era. When he served as military gover-nor 34 years ago, he was in his own world.

But he actually got more mentions when he became the closest person to former Head of State, General Sani Abacha and remained with him up to his last moments. Born on February 16, 1943, Jeremiah Timbut Useni, was seen as a successor to Abacha , but he lost to General Abdulsalami Abubakar due to what was described as protocol. Ten years after the late former military leader’s death, Useni insisted that Abacha died a natural death, contrary to speculations that he died of poison.



The former Minister of Transport and Quarter-Master General of the Nigeria Army, who was elected senator for Plateau South constituency of Plateau State in the 2015 national elections on the platform of the PDP, was head of a delegation from the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to meet and discuss common goals with Northern state governors and other leaders.

In 2003, he was Deputy National Chairman North for the ANPP, but in November 2004, he was locked in an internal ANPP struggle with Chief Donald Etiebet, the then National Chairman. In May 2006, he left the party to become chairman of a new party, the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), 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 playwright and activist, Ken Saro- Wiwa, was a national sacrifice. He was succeeded by Biodun Ogunbiyi, who criticized his poor leadership, resulting to the party’s failure to win any seats in the Senate or House of Representatives in the 2007 elections. Useni ran for election as senator for Plateau South in April 2011 on the platform DPP platform but was defeated by Victor Lar of the PDP.

Clearly, the Useni governorship ambition may be constitutional, but it has an ethical inquiry. At a time when the inherent challenges of running a government in the 21st Century is taking its tolls on even the younger elements, it is curious how the the lawmaker, who will be 76 years by the next general elections can cope with the rigours. If anything, the retired general should embark on the process of grooming and mentoring young men and women that will take over from his ilk and move the country forward.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/04/useni-a-come-back-bid-after-34yrs/

Hypocrisy is when you support Buhari but lampoon Useni.

Omeokachie:
Hypocrisy is when you support Buhari but lampoon Useni.

you can say that again

let him exercise his fundamental right at least he go spend some of our money with him for the people.

A man with a relooting mission.

Omeokachie:
Hypocrisy is when you support Buhari but lampoon Useni.

Funny enough Jeremiah Useni will make a far better President than Buhari

SalamRushdie:


Funny enough Jeremiah Useni will make a far better President than Buhari

Jerry Boy better than Dan Daura, never.

On another note people really don't know what it means to be Nigerian president. Yes you have power, but you have to deal with the power blocs and vested interests who hold Nigeria to ransom. GEJ, we complained about his style, Buhari, we are complaining, Yaradua, we were complaining, Obasanjo was the beginning of our complaints. Why don't we look inward and realize that we ourselves, as a people are responsible for stopping the system from working.

People complain about nepotism. Same people who shunt at queues and lie over the minutest detail just to get a regular service. The average Nigerian will gladly enrich himself corruptly, until he is caught he will go around without a conscience and without shame. So if the bottom is rotten, how can the top be clean ?

We need to look at ourselves, and ask why we seem to be the biggest hypocritical nation in Africa.

renewa29:
Jerry Boy better than Dan Daura, never.

On another note people really don't know what it means to be Nigerian president. Yes you have power, but you have to deal with the power blocs and vested interests who hold Nigeria to ransom. GEJ, we complained about his style, Buhari, we are complaining, Yaradua, we were complaining, Obasanjo was the beginning of our complaints. Why don't we look inward and realize that we ourselves, as a people are responsible for stopping the system from working.

People complain about nepotism. Same people who shunt at queues and lie over the minutest detail just to get a regular service. The average Nigerian will gladly enrich himself corruptly, until he is caught he will go around without a conscience and without shame. So if the bottom is rotten, how can the top be clean.

We need to look at ourselves, and ask why we seem to be the biggest hypocritical nation in Africa.

It is called survival of the fittest cos the govt has Failed in simplest things.

tuniski:

It is called survival of the fittest cos the govt has Failed in simplest things.

Nigerians have failed their nation too. Nigerian Pledge: I pledge to Nigeria my country, to be faithful, loyal and honest, to serve Nigeria with all my strength, to defend her unity,and uphold her honor and glory, so help me God.

@the bolded Police will catch you for wandering in your country, is that the F.G's fault ? They can cook up false charges against you and lock you up for trivial reasons, isn't the policeman a person first before his office ?
Police I.G disobeyed the President's directive, is that not insubordination ?
Attorney General's office almost paid a group of lawyers for doing nothing and the minister of Finance blocked this transaction, did she ask for any medal ?
Yes survival of the fittest, this should happen in a jungle with animals. Not in a country, with men and women.

He is broke. He wants to replenish his bank accounts, both home and abroad.

This is a joke. Pdp seems comatose on the plateau. I foresee Lalong and APC coasting to victory with a landslide

renewa29:
Jerry Boy better than Dan Daura, never.

On another note people really don't know what it means to be Nigerian president. Yes you have power, but you have to deal with the power blocs and vested interests who hold Nigeria to ransom. GEJ, we complained about his style, Buhari, we are complaining, Yaradua, we were complaining, Obasanjo was the beginning of our complaints. Why don't we look inward and realize that we ourselves, as a people are responsible for stopping the system from working.

People complain about nepotism. Same people who shunt at queues and lie over the minutest detail just to get a regular service. The average Nigerian will gladly enrich himself corruptly, until he is caught he will go around without a conscience and without shame. So if the bottom is rotten, how can the top be clean ?

We need to look at ourselves, and ask why we seem to be the biggest hypocritical nation in Africa.

Who is complaining about Buhari style of leadership? Buhari doesn't have a style of leadership , he has no leadership at all and we want him away from there .

Na wa o

.

The man is a joker.
I only blame our youths.

We will vote 4 him in his grave

Bubu na him inspiration... if you know, you know.

his mad...

Why not!

The idiots who should be giving him a run for his money are busy analyzing BBN.

He should be governor of Katsina.
Sai baba

Ok

Shame is far from this guy.

Definition of yeye Dey smell

Chaii!!
What did plateau people do to deserve this?

Paperwhite:
Then Nigeria is in need of the Fl.Lt.Jerry Rawlings' treatment.

Yes it is.

Should have happened at the end of the military era but it's never too late to get rid of the likes of Obasanjo and Buhari. They might be old men but a precedent needs to be set.

Let them all become fertilizer.

Northerners and power

old cargo

We the electorates ought to resolve never to vote anyone above 45 years. Na only them waka come?

Why can't he run for the governorship seat? The people who are meant to run for the seat are either fighting e-wars on nairaland, wasting their time watching Big Brother Naija or arguing about "EUROPEAN" football. Until the youths are ready to wake up, let him run for the seat.

BTW why will a 75-year old man seek reelection in a country that retires civil servants at the age of 60-65? I still don't get it.