Northern leaders, under the umbrella of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), have expressed shock and grief at the death of Chief Audu Ogbeh.
The ACF, in a statement on Saturday, said that “it is with deep shock that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) today received news of the death of Honourable Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh, OFR, at 78.”
The National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, in the statement described Ogbe as “a nationalist and a committed son of Arewa,” adding that “he was a passionate and a large-scale farmer, indeed one of the biggest farmers in Nigeria.”
“His was therefore a life well led in the service of Nigeria, nay, humanity. As the family mourns this irreparable loss, ACF sends its condolences. ACF also condoles the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Arewa, Benue State, as well as his numerous friends across Nigeria and beyond. May Almighty God in His infinite mercies grant him peaceful repose.
May God be with his family in this difficult time,” he said.
Eulogising the contribution of Chief Ogbeh to national development, Muhammad-Baba remarked that he was a three-time Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a one-time Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, one-time Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as well a recipient of the National Honour of the Officer of the Federal Republic, OFR.
He said, “Chief Ogbeh had also served as the Chairman of the National Executive Council (NEC) of Arewa Consultative Forum, from 2020 to 2023. Until his demise, Chief Ogbeh was also the Deputy Chairman of the Advisory Committee working to celebrate the ACF’s 25th Anniversary, slated to take place later this year.”
“ACF’s celebration of the late Chief Ogbeh is, therefore, one to a man who had paid his dues well,” Muhammad-Baba added.
