The National leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) over the weekend paid a condolence visit to the family of the former Minister of FCT, Late Gen. Jeremiah Useni rtd.
Among the SDP members who were at the house of the late Useni in Maitama in Abuja were: SDP National Chairman, Shehu Gaban, SDP 2023 Presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo and former Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung.
The SDP members said they were in the house to pay their condolences to the family, just as they added that they are in politics to checkmate the elites in politics.
Adebayo speaking, said, “With every sense of decency there should be no discussion of political issues in his house when the late Useni was yet to be buried.
“He served in the Senate and with many years that we listened to him it makes us to know that we could have learnt more if he should have lived longer and the fact that it is rare now to have people you can call natural Nigerians, we have to think about it.”
Speaking politically, the SDP Presidential candidate said, “2027 will take care of itself. SDP is one family. Our National Chairman is here. No faction, no division, we know that politics is not personal.
“The reason why some of us are in politics is because we know if we are not there they will bastardize this politics; the reason why l am in politics is that if we don’t take power and use it to serve the poor, the way the politics in elite is going, behaving like as if they are business men. We need to remind them that politics is for the people of Nigeria.”
It would be recalled that Lt. Gen.. Useni passed away on January 23, 2025 at the age of 82 after a prolonged illness.
Adebayo while praising Useni’s legacies and lifelong service, said he was devoted to justice and helping people, regardless of political, religious, or ethnic background.
According to him, Lt. Gen. Useni’s stewardship as Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister during military rule, was marked with love and service to humanity.
He noted that Lt. Gen. Useni made Abuja a city for the people, adding that he allocated land to small traders and relocated, rather than demolished homes in disadvantaged areas.
Adebayo while speaking further, recalled that, ‘During military rule, Useni transformed Abuja into the city of the people.”
He advised that “Politicians today must ensure it remains a city for the people, not just the government.”
Highlighted Useni’s role in uniting Nigeria from 1966 onward, Adebayo recalled a crucial moment in 1998 when Useni remained professional despite political pressures.
He noted that when the Nigerian Head of State died in 1998, Useni was the most senior officer but did not politicise the situation or seek personal advantage.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of SDP, Shehu Gabam, said Useni as a great leader with an outstanding legacy.
He said the former Senator’s death was a national loss and praised his simplicity and patriotism.
He said, “At 30, every Nigerian knew his name. We never heard negative things about him, only positive reports.”
Useni’s first child, Mrs Juliet Bali, who Responded on behalf of the family, , expressed gratitude to the SDP leadership for their visit and their kind words about her father.
She described her father as deeply generous, adding, “Baba was not just a father to us but to many. Even in his hospital bed, he still gave to others.”
