A State Burial or State Bazaar? The Curious Case of Baba Mai Tuwo’s Failed State Funeral

By Emmanuel Kwada

The Movement for the Emancipation of Nigeria (MEN) has voiced its outrage and profound disappointment over the chaotic and poorly executed state-sponsored burial of Late Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Timbut Useni, a revered Nigerian statesman affectionately known as Baba Mai Tuwo. The celebrated military leader and patriot, whose life was marked by selfless service and generosity, was denied the dignified farewell he deserved, turning what should have been a solemn honor into a spectacle of mismanagement and shame.

An alleged ₦2.5 million allocation to feed the Tilam community—Useni’s ancestral home—failed to materialize

Reports indicate that the Plateau State Government allocated a staggering ₦1.7 billion for the burial arrangements, overseen by a 23-man planning committee. Yet, the process was plagued by incompetence, neglect, and apparent financial impropriety, leaving mourners, dignitaries, and the General’s legacy disrespected.

The burial, intended to reflect Lt. Gen. Useni’s towering stature, instead exposed a series of glaring failures:

The state government’s widely publicized commitment to rehabilitate the Jos-Langtang road and renovate the late General’s homes in Jos and Langtang was abandoned. Mourners endured treacherous travel conditions on the dilapidated road, compounding their grief with frustration.

The generator donated by the late General himself to the church hosting the ceremony ran out of fuel mid-event, plunging Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s speech into darkness

An alleged ₦2.5 million allocation to feed the Tilam community—Useni’s ancestral home—failed to materialize. Over 500 traditional elders were left stranded and hungry, forcing MEN and concerned citizens to scrape together an emergency ₦200,000 contribution to avert total humiliation. For a man nicknamed Baba Mai Tuwo (Father of Food) for his generosity, the absence of provisions was a bitter irony.

In an embarrassing twist, the generator donated by the late General himself to the church hosting the ceremony ran out of fuel mid-event, plunging Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s speech into darkness. The incident underscored the broader collapse of logistical planning.

With ₦1.7 billion reportedly earmarked for road repairs, home renovations, food, and logistics—none of which were delivered—the question looms large: Where are the funds? The Movement for the Emancipation of Nigeria (MEN) has labeled the affair a “national embarrassment” and accused the 23-man committee and state authorities of turning a sacred occasion into a “state bazaar” of profiteering.

“This is not just a failure of planning; it’s a betrayal of trust,” said a MEN spokesperson. “If the money wasn’t spent on the burial, then whose pockets did it line?”

Those who dishonored him must face justice, or we will escalate our demands for accountability

MEN has issued a scathing demand for accountability, urging immediate action from the Plateau State Government:

A comprehensive audit of all funds allocated and expended on the burial.

An independent probe into the 23-man committee’s conduct.

Full public disclosure of disbursements—who received what, and for what purpose.

Swift disciplinary measures against those found guilty of negligence or corruption.

The group has placed Governor Caleb Mutfwang under intense scrutiny, warning that his administration’s silence could be interpreted as complicity. “Lt. Gen. Useni was a man of honor,” MEN declared. “Those who dishonored him must face justice, or we will escalate our demands for accountability.”

This debacle transcends the burial itself, spotlighting a deeper malaise of corruption, impunity, and negligence that continues to erode public trust in Nigeria. MEN has vowed to rally civil society, the media, and citizens to confront this “culture of looting” head-on, insisting that public funds must no longer be squandered under the guise of honoring national heroes.

As the nation mourns a titan, the Plateau State Chapter of MEN stands resolute, promising to monitor developments and amplify the call for transparency. “This is not the end,” the group concluded. “It’s the beginning of a reckoning.”