Audu Ogbeh
By Keyinde James
Audu Ogbeh, the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and ex-chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has passed away at 78. He died peacefully on Saturday, August 9, 2025, according to a statement released by his family. The family described Ogbeh as a man who departed peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, service, and dedication to Nigeria and his community.
Ogbeh was born on July 28, 1947, in Otukpo, Benue State, and hailed from the Idoma ethnic group. He attended King’s College, Lagos, and later studied at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Toulouse, France. Throughout his career, Ogbeh held various notable positions, including Minister of Communications, Minister of Steel Development, and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration from 2015 to 2019.
As a politician, Ogbeh served as the chairman of the PDP from 2001 to 2005, resigning due to disagreements with President Olusegun Obasanjo’s handling of a crisis in Anambra State. He later resigned from the PDP in December 2005. Ogbeh was also a farmer and a member of the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships Incorporated, based in Philadelphia, USA. Additionally, he was a writer and had five published plays, including “Epitaph of Simon Kisulu,” which was staged at the Muson Center in 2002.
The family has announced that details of the funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course, while expressing gratitude to friends, colleagues, and well-wishers for their prayers and support. As the nation mourns the loss of this elder statesman, Ogbeh’s legacy of integrity, service, and dedication will continue to inspire many.
