Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has died at the age of 78.
A statement issued by the Ogbeh family on Saturday confirmed that the elder statesman passed away peacefully on August 9, 2025.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather; Chief Audu Ogbeh. He passed away at the fulfilled age of 78,” the family said, describing him as a man who “departed peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, service, and dedication to our nation and community.”
The family noted that funeral arrangements would be announced in due course and requested privacy during the mourning period.
Born in Otukpo, Benue State, Ogbeh attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and later the University of Toulouse in France. He began his career in academia, rising to head the Language, Arts, and Social Sciences Department at Murtala College of Arts, Science and Technology in 1977.
His political career began with his election to the Benue State House of Assembly in 1979, where he served as Deputy Speaker. He went on to hold federal cabinet positions as Minister of Communications (1982–1983) and Minister of Steel Development before the December 1983 military coup ended the Second Republic.
An accomplished farmer and entrepreneur, Ogbeh established rice mills, a cashew plantation, community agricultural projects, and a consultancy service. He later served on the National Constitutional Conference Commission (1993) and the National Reconciliation Committee (1995).
A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ogbeh was its National Chairman from 2001 to 2005. His principled opposition to then-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third-term bid led to his resignation from the post.
In 2015, he returned to public service as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development under President Muhammadu Buhari, serving until 2019.
Beyond politics, Ogbeh was a playwright, with works including Epitaph of Simon Kisulu, staged at the Muson Centre in 2002.
He is survived by his family, who say they remain comforted by “the many lives he touched and the example he set.”
