 |
| Sen JT Useni |
PLATEAU GUBER RACE: USENI COLLAPSES DURING CAMPAIGN TOUR
By Udanta Ugante
August 8, 2018
Senator Jeremiah Timbut Useni,
the Plateau State Governorship aspirant under the platform of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) is alleged to have collapsed during his familiarization
tour and declaration of intent which he has embarked upon across the 17 local
government areas of the state.
The aspirant is said to be
meeting with party delegates, EXCO, elders and other key stakeholders of the
party.
Sources informed African Drum that the incident occurred
on Monday at the PDP secretariat Bassa LGA where party faithful had gathered to
receive him. According to a source, “Though the turnout of our party delegates
and the aspirant’s supporters was quite impressive, we were not sure he would
come as it was rumored that he was having health challenges and had to travel
to France for medical attention”.
It is said that Useni, upon
arrival at the LGA party Secretariat and probably also to dismissed his health
challenge rumors, comically embarked on stationary jogging to the delight of
all. It is however said that in the course of doing that, he was not balanced
and therefore, seen staggering.
Our source said that it took the
aspirant not more than five minutes to address the delegates while being
supported by his aides after which he was helped to his seat.
However, it is further said that just few minutes after taking his seat, he was
seen relapsing gradually to the floor while humming under his breath. His aides
who were said to have been very cautious and vigilant immediately held him and
took him outside the venue for fresh air and chilled water.
Some of his supporters blamed the
incident on the stuffy nature of the party office which is said to lack
ventilation. Useni was said to have stabilized after some minutes, but the
programme was rushed as he did not spent much time with elders after leaving
the party secretariat.
According to the source, “the
general was however, stronger and more stable during our visit to Jos East and
Jos North Local Government respectively on that day”.
When African Drum contacted Senator Useni’s Coordinator in Bassa Local Government
Hon. Danjuma Kiku on the issue, he said he was not at the party secretariat
when it happened.
However, in his response, the
Director-General of the J.T. Useni Campaign organization Professor Dimis
Mailafiya vehemently denied the allegation ascribing it to the figment of
imagination of political opponents.
“The day before yesterday we were
in Bassa, Jos-East and Jos North and we finished our tour successfully. Yesterday
we were in Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom successfully. Today, we are heading
to Bokkos, so I don’t know what you are talking about.
“If our political opponents want
to build stories out of nothing that is their problem. They have said so many
things about him but since they have not succeeded, they should just face their
campaigns and sell themselves by telling people what they can do and stop
talking about another person. I don’t know what you are talking about; I don’t
know where you got this idea from”. said Mailafiya.
The DG emphasized that Useni
addressed over one hundred delegates in Bassa and spoke for over 45 minutes and
after many respones, he walked to his car by himself. “whoever, is feeding you
with wrong information should tell you that in Bassa, the Distinguished Senator
J.T. Useni delivered his address to over 100 delegates. He spoke for over 45
minutes and sat down by himself. Many responses were given. He thanked them and
walked to his car. From there, he went and addressed the stakeholders/elders of
Bassa. After all responses, he thanked them and we proceeded to Jos-East and
Jos-North respectively. Now, at what point did he collapse?” asked the DG.
Mailafiya added that of recent,
Useni was the first and perhaps, the only governorship aspirant that personally
went round all IDPs in Daffo, Bokkos LGA, Miango, Bassa LGA, Heipang and Fan,
Barkin Ladi LGAs and Anguldi in Jos South LGA after crises with relief materials and
challenged other aspirants to tell the people what they can do and not what
other aspirants were doing adding this his principal is a pace setter and the
candidate to beat.
He further said that Senator
Useni is also doing very well as the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on
defence stressing that he has been vocal and has never miss any senate sitting.
Post a Comment