Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has paid tribute to the late Chief Audu Ogbeh, describing him as a rare statesman and intellectual force.
Speaking at a night of tributes held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, Ngige urged Ogbeh to inform Nigeria’s founding fathers that the situation in the country remains dire.
Ngige recalled Ogbeh’s quiet yet commanding influence in government, stating, “People underrated Audu because he is slim and soft-spoken. They think I’m the warrior because I have a beard and raise my voice. But when Audu speaks, his clarity and depth are unmatched.”
He reminisced about how Ogbeh’s presentations at the Federal Executive Council often left even top officials, including former Secretaries to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal and Boss Mustapha, struggling to keep pace. “After council meetings, they would go to his office to ask him to repeat everything,” Ngige noted. “His speed and knowledge were overwhelming.”
Referring to Ogbeh as a “precious gem,” Ngige lamented the loss of one of Nigeria’s finest minds, a man of eloquence, brilliance, and extensive knowledge.
In a poignant closing, Ngige imagined Ogbeh reuniting with other national icons, stating, “Audu, you are already there with Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo and the rest. Lecture them a little but tell them things are still bad in Nigeria, even if not worse.”
Chief Audu Ogbeh, a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ex-Minister of Agriculture, passed away recently at the age of 78.
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