President Tinubu Pays Tribute To Late Chief Audu Ogbeh, Former PDP Chairman.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed profound condolences to the government and people of Benue State following the death of Chief Audu Ogbeh, a prominent Nigerian statesman, former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and a key figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC). Chief Ogbeh, who passed away peacefully at the age of 78 on Saturday, 9 August 2025, left an enduring legacy in Nigeria’s political and agricultural landscape.
In a heartfelt statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu extended his sympathies to Ogbeh’s family, friends, and political associates. He described the late statesman as a patriot whose wisdom, dedication, and commitment to progress profoundly shaped Nigeria’s political sphere. “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 support his propositions. The nation will sorely miss his insightful perspectives and wealth of experience,” Tinubu remarked.
Chief Ogbeh’s illustrious career spanned decades, marked by significant contributions to Nigeria’s governance. Born on 28 July 1947 in Otukpo, Benue State, he began his political journey in the 1970s as a legislator, serving as Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly from 1979 to 1982. He later held the position of Federal Minister of Communications under President Shehu Shagari’s administration from 1982 to 1983. Ogbeh’s tenure as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2015 to 2019 under President Muhammadu Buhari was particularly notable, during which he championed agricultural reforms and rural development initiatives.
Beyond politics, Ogbeh was a multifaceted individual with a rich academic and professional background. A graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Toulouse, France, where he earned a Master’s degree in French Literature, he served as a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University from 1972 to 1976. His intellectual prowess extended to the arts, with Ogbeh authoring several plays, including *Epitaph for Simon Kisulu*, a work addressing the oppressive apartheid system in South Africa, staged at Lagos’ Muson Centre in 2002. As a farmer, he established rice mills, a cashew plantation, poultry farms, and pineapple projects, demonstrating his commitment to agricultural innovation.
President Tinubu also acknowledged Ogbeh’s role as a founding member of the APC, noting his intellectual contributions to policy formulation and his ability to devise practical solutions to complex national challenges. “Chief Ogbeh’s legacy is one of integrity, intellect, and unwavering commitment to public service,” the President added.
Ogbeh’s tenure as PDP National Chairman from 2001 to 2005 was not without controversy. His resignation in January 2005, amid reported tensions with then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, sparked widespread speculation. While rumours circulated that Obasanjo coerced Ogbeh’s resignation, the late statesman later debunked these claims in 2018, calling them “totally false.”
The President concluded his tribute by praying for the peaceful repose of Chief Ogbeh’s soul and for God’s comfort to his family. Tributes from across Nigeria’s political spectrum have poured in, with many describing Ogbeh as a respected figure whose contributions to the nation’s political and agricultural sectors will not be forgotten.
