The Asagba of Asaba, Obi Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, has expressed sadness over the passing of a one-time Military Governor of the old Bendel State, Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni (rtd).
In a tribute from his palace on Saturday, the Asagba, joined by some of the palace chiefs, condoled the Useni family, the Plateau State Government, the governments and people of Delta and Edo States, as well as the Asaba community, describing J.T Useni’s death as a huge loss to the nation.
The monarch said, “We want to express our heartfelt condolences to the family of Lt. Gen Senator Jeremiah Useni who passed on recently.
“As a chief in the palace of His Royal Majesty in Asaba, we are saddened by the news of his passing and we want to convey our heartfelt condolences, not just to his family and people of Plateau State, but also to the government of Edo/Delta where he reigned as Governor of the old Bendel State. He was a Senator and a Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and also was Omeluoha of Asaba kingdom.
“We mourn with the nation at this point in time, and more significantly, the palace in Asaba is certainly saddened by his demise as we remember, with great passion and interest, his contributions, not just to the growth and development of the old Bendel State, but also of Asaba in particular because a lot of legacies that littered our past, the roads that he constructed in Delta and Asaba, we will remember always
“We want to express our condolences to show the whole world that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the family at this point in time and that the Palace will continue to remember him as a Chief who served us meritoriously. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”
PUNCH Online reports that the retired Army General and politician, who held sway during the Abacha regime, died on Thursday at the age of 82 after a protracted illness.