Jeremiah Useni
Encyclopedia
Jeremiah Timbut Useni was a Lt. General in the Nigerian Army and Minister responsible for the administration of the Abuja Federal Capital Territory under the Sani Abacha
military junta. He came from Plateau State
. 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.
in January 1984.
In 1988 Useni, then minister for the capital territory of Abuja, was rumored as a successor to General Sani Abacha
.
Useni states 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.
Speaking in April 2008, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Aliyu Modibbo Umar, blamed problems with the Abuja
Master Plan on the administration of Useni as a minister under the Abacha military government.
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.
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
military junta. He came from Plateau State
Plateau State
Plateau State is the twelfth largest state of Nigeria, and is roughly located in the center of the country. It is geographically unique in Nigeria because its boundaries totally surround the Jos Plateau, having the Jos Plateau totally in its central and northern part...
. 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.
Period of military rule
Useni came to national limelight in Nigeria when he was appointed Military Governor of Nigeria's defunct Bendel StateMid-Western Region, Nigeria
The Mid-Western Region was a division of Nigeria from 1963 to 1991, from 1976 being known as the Bendel state.It was formed in June 1963 from Benin and Delta provinces of the Western Region, and its capital was Benin City...
in January 1984.
In 1988 Useni, then minister for the capital territory of Abuja, was rumored as a successor to General Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
.
Useni states that the decision to appoint Abdulsalami Abubakar
Abdulsalami Abubakar
General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar is a Nigerian general who was President of Nigeria from June 9, 1998 until May 29, 1999. He succeeded Sani Abacha upon Abacha's death. It was during Abubakar's leadership that Nigeria adopted its new constitution on May 5, 1999, which provided for multiparty...
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.
Speaking in April 2008, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Aliyu Modibbo Umar, blamed problems with the Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
Master Plan on the administration of Useni as a minister under the Abacha military government.
Democratic period
In August 2001 he was appointed head of a delegation from the Arewa Consultative ForumArewa Consultative Forum
The Arewa Consultative Forum is a political and cultural association of leaders in Northern Nigeria formed in 2000 which has considerable influence in the political scene...
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
Donald Etiebet
Chief Donald Dick Etiebet is a Nigerian politician who was a senator during the Nigerian Second Republic .He was then elected governor of Cross River State, holding this office from October to December 1983, when the military coup brought General Muhammadu Buhari into power.Etiebet was born in...
, the National Chairman.
In May 2006, he left the ANPP to become chairman of a new party, the Democratic People's Party
Democratic People's Party (Nigeria)
The Democratic People's Party is a Nigerian political party founded in 2006 by disgruntled members of the All Nigeria Peoples Party.In the 21 April 2007 presidential elections, the winner was Umaru Musa Yar'Adua of the People's Democratic Party with 24,638,063 votes...
, 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
Ken Saro-Wiwa
Kenule "Ken" Beeson Saro Wiwa was a Nigerian author, television producer, environmental activist, and winner of the Right Livelihood Award and the Goldman Environmental Prize...
was a national sacrifice.
He was succeeded by Biodun Ogunbiyi
Biodun Ogunbiyi
Biodun Ogunbiyi is a Nigerian politician from Ogun State. He was a member first of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, then in 2006 was one of the founders of the breakaway Democratic People's Party....
, 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
Victor Lar
Victor Lar is a Nigerian politician who was elected Senator for the Plateau South constituency of Plateau State, Nigeria in the April 2011 national elections. Lar was running on the People's Democratic Party platform....
of the PDP.