“Jerry Boy” Useni, Dies, Aged 82, Plateau Mourns

By Adesina Soyooye

Useni suffered a personal tragedy when he lost his loyal wife, Julie, and their last son, in the ill-fated defunct EAS Airline plane crash in Jos.

The Military has lost one of its most popular retired Army Generals.

Lt General Jeremiah Useni, rtd, passed on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

For long, especially, since after the 2023 Presidential Election, many had wondered about the loud silence and conspicuous absence of the retired General, who was also a politician, from public discourse. It turns out he had been down with ill-health known to only family and close friends and associates.

On Thursday, the fun-loving General, known by many as a jolly good fellow, and fondly called “Jerry Boy”, succumbed to ill-health and so, embarked on the lonely journey all human beings will eventually embark on.

A native of Plateau State, Lt General Useni enlisted into the Nigeria Army at the age of 14. He gradually, but steadily, climbed the ranks and eventually retired as a Lt. General.

His career in the Army was rewarding as he held a number of high profile positions.

He was the Military Governor of defunct Bendel State, Quarter-Master General of the Army, Minister of Transportation, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, all as an Army Officer.

Indeed, he almost became Nigeria’s Head of State on the death of maximum Military Ruler, General Sani Abacha, being the most senior Army Officer at the time. But that privilege was conceded to then Chief of Defence Staff, General Abdulsalmi Abubakar who was on the brink of being retired by Abacha, if Abacha had not died suddenly. At the time, Useni, a bosom friend of Abacha, was Minister of the FCT.

It was not all rosy for him in the Army. Useni while in service, lost his beloved wife, Julie, and his last son in the ill-fated defunct EAS plane crash in Jos, Plateau State.

Away from that personal tragedy, he also came under the very false suspicion of being in the know of how/why Abacha died because both of them were allegedly together in the couple of hours leading to Abacha’s death.

But he overcame the personal tragedy and false allegation, and on retirement, plunged head-on into Politics.

He was the Deputy Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and later, became a Senator and represented Plateau South Senatorial Zone. He also, surprisingly, ran for the office of the Governor of Plateau State, and lost to now Senator Simon Lalong.

Announcing Useni’s passing Thursday night, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutsfwang, described Useni’s passing  as a  tremendous loss to Nigeria, the Army and Plateau State.