Nigeria has lost one of its most respected political leaders and agricultural advocates, Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 78.

The family, in a statement, confirmed his death and described him as “a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and statesman” who served the nation with “integrity, humility, and an unwavering commitment to the common good.”

The statement noted that he died peacefully and that funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.

Chief Ogbeh’s public service career spanned over four decades, cutting across politics, governance, education, literature, and farming. He first emerged on the national scene in 1979 when he was elected to the Benue State House of Assembly and later served as its Deputy Speaker. In the Second Republic, he was appointed Minister of Communications (1982–1983) and subsequently Minister of Steel Development until the 1983 military coup.

In 2001, Ogbeh was appointed National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a position he held until 2005, earning a reputation for principled leadership and outspokenness. His most recent high-profile public role was as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development under President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2019, where he championed policies aimed at boosting food production, supporting smallholder farmers, and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on food imports.

Beyond politics, Ogbeh was an accomplished academic and playwright. He taught French at Ahmadu Bello University and headed the Department of Humanities at Murtala College. His literary works, including the acclaimed play Epitaph of Simon Kisulu, showcased his depth of thought and creative vision.

An accomplished farmer, Ogbeh often said his happiest moments were spent on his farm in Benue State, where he advocated for modern but accessible farming techniques for rural communities.