Nigeria Loses Farmer-Statesman: Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh Bows Out
By Idris Jibril
Nigeria woke up to the painful news of the passing of Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh — a man whose life journey bridged the farmlands of Benue and the highest offices of the nation’s political power. At 76, the Second Republic icon, former Minister, former National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and elder statesman, has taken his final bow, leaving behind a legacy etched in service, integrity, and patriotism.
In an era when politics was still shaped by ideals rather than sheer opportunism, Ogbeh stood out as a voice of reason. From his days in the National Assembly under President Shehu Shagari, to his bold resignation as PDP Chairman in 2005 — a move born out of principle — he consistently proved that conscience could still have a seat in Nigerian politics.
But Ogbeh was more than just a political figure. He was a farmer in spirit and in practice — a man who saw agriculture not as a side note but as the foundation of national sovereignty. As Minister of Agriculture under President Muhammadu Buhari, he championed the push for self-reliance in food production, reminding Nigerians that no nation could claim dignity while depending on others for its daily bread.
Despite wielding influence across party lines, he carried himself with a humility rare among Nigeria’s political elite. Whether speaking in the halls of power or walking among rural farmers, Ogbeh’s message was consistent: service above self, truth above convenience, and Nigeria above all else.
His death closes another page in the book of Nigeria’s “golden era” political class — men and women who entered politics not merely for profit but out of conviction. In the current climate of transactional politics, his departure leaves a void that will be difficult to fill.
As Nigeria mourns, the farmer-statesman’s legacy endures. Chief Audu Ogbeh tilled the soil of our national hopes, planted seeds of reform and service, and watered them with courage. The harvest of his labors will feed generations long after his voice is gone.
Adieu, Chief. Nigeria remembers.
