Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh has died aged 78.
A statement by the Ogbeh family on Saturday said the elder statesman died peacefully on Saturday.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather; Chief Audu Ogbeh.
“He passed away on the 9th of August 2025 at the fulfilled age of 78,” the statement read.
The family described Ogbeh as a man who “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 example he set,” the statement added.
It noted that details of the funeral arrangements would be communicated in due course, while expressing gratitude to friends, colleagues, and well-wishers for their prayers and support.
“We will appreciate some privacy at this time while we mourn the loss of our patriarch,” the statement concluded.
Born, in Otukpo, Benue State, Ogbeh attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and later the University of Toulouse in France, rising from teaching assistant to head of the Language, Arts and Social Sciences Department at Murtala College of Arts, Science and Technology in 1977.
His entry into public service came with his election to the Benue State House of Assembly in 1979, where he served as Deputy Speaker.
He was subsequently appointed Federal Minister of Communications (1982–1983) and Minister of Steel Development in the Second Republic, until the coup of December 1983 halted his tenure.
After a period devoted to agriculture, during which he established rice mills, a cashew plantation, debt community agricultural projects, and consul-tancy service, Ogbeh returned to national service.
He served on the National Constitutional Conference Commission (1993) and the National Reconciliation Committee (1995).
A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ogbeh became National Chairman of PDP (2001–2005), famously taking a principled stand against former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third-term bid, a decision that ultimately led to his resignation.
In the later years of his career, Ogbeh was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (2015–2019) under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
A multifaceted scholar, he authored several plays, including Epitaph of Simon Kisulu, showcased at the Muson Centre in 2002.
