Former PDP National Chairman and veteran politician Chief Audu Ogbeh died at age 78 peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, ending a career that spanned Nigeria’s Second Republic through the current democratic era.
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Chief Audu Ogbeh served across different administrations and party lines, most recently as Minister of Agriculture under President Muhammadu Buhari after beginning his federal executive experience as Minister of Communications during Nigeria’s Second Republic.
Ogbeh’s political journey started in the 1970s as a legislator before evolving into one of Nigeria’s most recognisable political figures. Despite his PDP leadership role, he later became a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), demonstrating the cross-party respect he commanded throughout his career.
President Bola Tinubu led national tributes to the deceased statesman, describing him as “a great patriot” whose contributions shaped Nigeria’s political landscape. In a condolence message delivered through spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu praised Ogbeh’s analytical approach to governance and policy development.
“Chief Audu Ogbeh was a patriot whose wisdom, dedication, and pursuit of progress left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s political landscape,” Tinubu stated. “He was always ready with facts and figures to support his propositions. The nation will sorely miss his insightful perspectives and wealth of experience.”
The president particularly highlighted Ogbeh’s intellectual capacity and problem-solving abilities, noting his reputation for crafting solutions to complex national challenges through data-driven analysis and deep understanding of Nigeria’s socio-economic dynamics.
Tinubu extended condolences to the government and people of Benue State, Ogbeh’s home state, as well as to his family, friends, and political associates across party lines. The president’s tribute reflects the bipartisan respect Ogbeh maintained despite Nigeria’s often polarised political environment.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described Chief Ogbeh’s death as a great loss to Nigeria.
“ACF’s celebration of the late Chief Ogbeh is therefore one to a man who had paid his dues well. He was certainly a nationalist and a committed son of Arewa,” they said in a statement.
Family sources confirmed that Ogbeh died peacefully on Saturday, though specific details about the circumstances of his death were not immediately disclosed.
“He departed peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, service and dedication to our nation and community. We are comforted by the many lives he touched and the examples he set,” his family announced in a statement.
The veteran politician’s death removes one of the few remaining links to Nigeria’s Second Republic era, when he first entered federal executive positions. His career trajectory from the civilian administration of the 1980s through democratic transitions to contemporary politics marked him as a bridge figure in Nigerian governance.
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