Some Facts About the Late Audu Ogbeh: Farmer, Lecturer, Playwright

Audu Ogbeh passed away peacefully on Saturday at 78. Although the exact cause of death hasn’t been officially shared, his family confirmed the peaceful nature of his passing.

Ogbeh was a well-known politician and left an unforgettable impact on both politics and agriculture in Nigeria. Many fellow politicians have praised him for his integrity, intelligence, and dedication to public service.

He was born on July 28, 1947, in Otukpo, a town in Benue State. He studied at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in French.

Later, he went to France to get a Master’s Degree in French Literature from the University of Toulouse.

Ogbeh’s career began in academics; he taught at Ahmadu Bello University from 1972 to 1976.

Political Journey and Achievements

In his political career, he became the Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly from 1979 to 1982. He served as the Federal Minister of Communications under Shehu Shagari from 1982 to 1983.

From 2015 to 2019, Ogbeh was the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. He also led the People’s Democratic Party as its National Chairman from 2001 to 2005, resigning due to internal party conflicts during President Obasanjo’s controversial bid for a third term.

Ogbeh wasn’t just a politician; he had a deep connection to agriculture. He set up rice mills and ran cashew plantations, poultry farms, and pineapple projects.

Ogbeh also made his mark in the arts as a playwright. He wrote “Epitaph for Simon Kisulu,” a play that talks about the harsh reality of apartheid in South Africa.

The play was first published in 1984 and was brought to the stage in 2002 at the Muson Centre in Lagos.

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