L-R, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari and wife of Chief Ogbeh,Mrs. Justina Obehi Ogbeh during the condolence visit in Abuja.
The Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has commiserated with the late Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh’s family, who died at the age of 78 years.
Speaking during the condolence visit to the late Ogbeh’s residence at the Aso Drive, Abuja on Monday, the Minister expressed on behalf the Ministry his heart felt condolences.
He said: “Our heartfelt condolences for the loss of our father who was a legend, an icon of the Nigerian State.He left an indelible and unforgettable mark in the history of this country especially in the agriculture sector”.
He revealed that the late Audu Ogbeh served as a Minister of Communication, later Steel Development from 1982 to 1983 during the Second Republic, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (as it was then) , an Elder Statesman and former National Party Chairman of the PDP. The Minister described him as someone who has been honest, forth right, humble, transparent, sincere, and full of integrity.
In a statement,Kyari recalled when he was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, that his first call was at the Audu Ogbeh’s home to see what he can grab from him because he was full of intellect, wisdom and someone you will enjoy sitting with to discuss about life and nationhood.
‘’As a nation, we going to miss him and we are here to align with you and the family, you are not alone in this grief, we join you and share your grief and we pray that may his soul rest in peace.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi revealed that the former minister will be greatly missed for the good legacies he left behind, especially in the Ministry in terms of programmes and the projects .
In his words, “We are here to commiserate with the family and to express our profound condolences”.
In her response, the late Chief Audu Ogbeh’s wife, Mrs.Justina Obehi Ogbeh thanked the Minister and the management of the Ministry for the condolence visit.