Useni: Ex Bendel Gov Who Transferred Edo-Delta Wealth To Plateau Declares To Run
The Oasis Reporters
September 8, 2018
A retired Lt. General in the Nigerian Army, Jeremiah Timbut Useni, has said he will restructure Plateau State, end insecurity, if elected governor of Plateau in the coming general election in 2019.
It will be recalled that Gen. Jeremiah Useni was then Bendel State military governor appointed by Major General Muhammadu Buhari after a military coup that overthrew civilian president Shehu Aliyu Shagari on December 31, 1983.
In General Useni’s statement at the PDP secretariat, Abuja, Useni, who is also a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, is promising to provide free education, boost Agriculture and attract foreign investors in the State.
In then Bendel state, now Edo and Delta States where he met Gov (Prof) Ambrose Alli’s free education in place sustained by Alli’s successor for three months before Buhari’s coup d’etat, Chief Samuel Ogbemudia, Jerry Useni shut down schools and dismissed several thousands of workers. The economy of the oil rich state ground to a halt. Many professionals fled abroad, commencing the brain drain that has now made over 30,000 Nigerian doctors to live and work in the US. Several thousands of them are from Edo and Delta States. Other professionals too are there as well as in many European, Arabian and American countries.
Following in the mantra of Buhari’s War Against Corruption fight, Useni recalled thousands of all the Volkswagen beetle cars ex gov Ambrose Alli had freely given to retired teachers in the villages, albeit with the understanding that some of them
would assist in his reelection campaign. Useni said government funds were used in buying them and he was recovering government wealth.
Ironically, almost all the cars were later found on the streets of Plateau towns, being driven by people who did not purchase them. While Edo and Delta citizens were discreetly asking for the whereabouts of the vehicles, the large Bendel population in Plateau state them where even recognizing some of the cars.
Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo who had set up the University of Jos, transferred a physical chemistry professor and Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin to resume duty as Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos in 1978. A large number of staff followed Prof. Emmanuel Uwumagbuhunmwun Emovon to Jos, thus increasing the large population of Edo-Delta citizens in the city of Jos. They knew about the recovered and “transferred” cars to Plateau State.
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The battle for the number one seat in Plateau has begun with candidates submitting their nomination forms, preparing for the contest ahead.
For now, about 16 aspirants of the PDP have collected nomination forms for the party’s governorship seat.
They however, called on the party leadership to ensure credible governorship primaries.
If nominated, Jeremiah Useni may be facing Governor Simon Lalong who is for now the only aspirant seeking re-election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Useni’s main plank is that he is Tarok, while Lalong is from Shendam local government making both of them citizens of the same senatorial district. Their insistence is that the zone ought to be allowed to have it’s two terms of four years apiece. Lalong so far has shown ineptitude in tackling the myriad of challenges facing Plateau state.
On the Other hand, Useni has yet to show signs of wealth creation for the people of the state. In Edo/Delta, he took away jobs and created none, neither was he enthusiastic about free education. But he may have changed and might surprise the people of Plateau State.
