By Austin Angwe, Makurdi
President Bola Tinubu has paid tribute to the late Chief Audu Ogbeh, describing him as an exceptional statesman who served the nation diligently.
Speaking at Ogbeh’s burial ceremony yesterday in Otukpa, Benue State, Tinubu, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, urged Ogbeh’s family to emulate his outstanding qualities.
The president’s statement signed by Special Adviser to Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, said Ogbeh would be remembered for his humility, compassion, and generosity.
He also described the late elder statesman as a unifying figure who was known for bridging divides with the aim of bringing people together.
President Tinubu also stated that the deceased leaders was marked by integrity, adding that late Ogbeh worked tirelessly to promote unity and stability.
The president also maintained that Ogbeh’s dedication to Nigeria’s progress and development was unwavering, adding that he equally played significant roles in Nigeria’s politics, particularly in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he was the national chairman, and later in the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he served as Minister of Agriculture.
He also recalled that Ogbeh as founding member of the PDP contributed significantly to Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, adding that as National Chairman of the PDP from 2001 to 2005, Ogbe worked to balance party dynamics, navigating complex national issues.