Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has mourned former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Audu Ogbeh, who died on Saturday at the age of 78.
Chief Obasanjo, who is in Uganda on a visit, described the late minister as a peace-loving, unassuming, committed patriot and a firm believer in democracy and participatory governance.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Chief Obasanjo said the former PDP leader was “a man whose political career stretched from the military era through the present democratic dispensation.”
Chief Obasanjo said the late politician’s place will be very difficult to fill within his community, the state, the party and the nation.
“To this extent, he was the Deputy Speaker in Plateau House of Assembly in the 70s, Minister of Communications 1982-1983, Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria (PDP) 2001-2005 and Minister of Agriculture and Food Security 2015-2019. All of these serve as evidence of his faith in the prospects of participatory politics.
“Ever since, he built for himself, an impressive profile of immense goodwill and affection among his people, as a frontline politician and community leader.
“Chief Audu Ogbeh will be missed for his unwavering commitment to politics, governance and democracy as he made significant contributions to the re-establishment of democracy in Nigeria. His place will be very difficult to fill within his community, the State, the Party and the nation.
“May God console his wife and the entire family. May his soul rest in perfect peace”, he wrote.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has condoled with the government and people of Benue State over the passing of Chief Audu Ogbeh, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The President also commiserated with the late statesman’s family, friends, and associates.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described late Chief Ogbeh as a brilliant mind whose intellectual contributions enriched policy formulation and offered practical solutions to complex national challenges.
A seasoned politician, Chief Ogbeh began his political career in the 1970s as a legislator and was a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
President Tinubu said: “Chief Audu Ogbeh was a patriot whose wisdom, dedication, and pursuit of progress left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s political landscape. He was always ready with facts and figures to back his propositions. The nation will sorely miss his insightful perspectives and wealth of experience.”
The President prayed for the repose of his soul and for God’s comfort upon his family.
