Arc. Obekpa Mourns The Passing Of Chief Ogbeh

It is with profound sorrow that I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Chief Audu Ogbeh, a towering figure in Nigerian public life, who passed away peacefully on August 9, 2025, at the age of 78.

Chief Ogbeh was much more than a statesman. He was a teacher, a humanitarian, a custodian of Nigeria’s political heritage, whom I fondly called “Google” for his recall of history’s facts and figures. His unmatched intellect, integrity, and commitment to service made him a guiding light not only across the nation but intimately for those of us privileged to have crossed his path.

He played an indispensable role in my own political journey. Alongside Comrade Emmanuel Abah Yaro and Dr. Kenneth Ibeh Kalu, I had the honour of being shaped by his counsel from our early days in the Advance Congress for Democrats, through the evolution into Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and today’s APC. His wisdom preserved us, grounded us, and propelled us forward with clarity and purpose.

Chief Ogbeh’s legacy as deputy speaker in Benue State’s Assembly, PDP national chairman, and minister in multiple administrations stands as proof to a lifetime dedicated to inclusive governance and national progress. As a farmer, educator, and policy-maker, he bridged sectors with elegance and substance.

To his wife, children, grandchildren, and extended family, please receive my heartfelt sympathies. Nigeria has lost one of its finest minds and moral compasses. May you find comfort in the abundant lives he touched, the ideals he championed, and the solid foundation he laid. Though his presence is gone, his example remains, and his spirit endures in every public servant who values service over self.

May Chief Audu Ogbeh rest in perfect peace, and may his life’s work continue to inspire us.

– Arc. Anthony Ejeh Obekpa