Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the death of former Minister of Agriculture and ex-national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Audu Ogbeh, who passed away on Saturday.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo—currently on a visit to Uganda—described Ogbeh as a peace-loving, unassuming, and committed patriot, as well as a firm believer in democracy and participatory governance.
READ ALSO: Former agriculture minister, Audu Ogbeh, dies at 78
The former president noted that Ogbeh’s political journey spanned decades, from Nigeria’s military era to the present democratic dispensation.
“He served as Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly in the 1970s, Minister of Communications from 1982 to 1983, National Chairman of the PDP between 2001 and 2005, and Minister of Agriculture and Food Security from 2015 to 2019. All these roles attest to his enduring faith in the prospects of participatory politics,” Obasanjo said.
He recalled that Ogbeh built an impressive legacy of goodwill and affection among his people, distinguishing himself as a frontline politician and respected 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,” Obasanjo stated.
The former president extended his condolences to Ogbeh’s wife, family, and associates, praying for divine comfort for them and for the departed’s soul to rest in perfect peace.