Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume has mourned the passing of former Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh.
He described it as a “monumental loss to the nation.”
PUNCH Online reports that the elder statesman passed away on Friday.
Akume, who paid a condolence visit to the late statesman’s residence in Abuja on Saturday, also described the late politician as “a distinguished leader, consummate public servant, and patriot, who committed his life to his people and the nation in various capacities.”
A statement by the SGF’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, disclosed this.
It was titled, “Audu Ogbeh’s death a monumental loss – Akume.”
According to Akume, Ogbeh lived a life of total service to Benue State and Nigeria as a whole, saying his vast experience, knowledge, and national and international reach would be missed.
He said, “I received with a deep sense of grief and loss, the passing of a statesman, farmer, playwright and politician, Chief Audu Ogbeh.
“He was a man who served with integrity and a deep commitment to the Nigerian project. He not only excelled as Minister of Communications in the Second Republic, but he was also a voice of reason as a politician and chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 2001 until January 2005. He also left his mark as the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.”
The SGF hailed Ogbeh’s services to his home state and the nation at large calling him a patriotic public servant.
“He was a distinguished leader, teacher, patriot, consummate public servant, and quintessential intellectual, who shone more than a million stars in the service of his community, Benue State, and Nigeria as a whole.
“He was indeed a fine gentleman, philanthropist, promoter of peace, justice and equity, and indeed a colossus in all ramifications, whose selfless service, wealth of experience, deep knowledge, and local and international reach will be highly missed,” it further read.
Akume commiserated with the family and prayed for the repose of the late Ogbeh’s soul
“Our prayers are with the family and loved ones he left behind and we pray that the almighty God will grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of this perfect gentleman,” it concluded.
PUNCH Online reports that the duo are kinsmen from Benue State.
