Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed shock and sadness over the demise of former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, on Saturday.

Obasanjo, who is in Uganda on a visit, described the late former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a peace-loving, unassuming, committed patriot and a firm believer in democracy and participatory governance.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President stated that the former minister was “a man whose political career stretched from the military era through the present democratic dispensation.

“To this extent, he was the Deputy Speaker in Plateau House of Assembly in the 70s, Minister of Communications 1982-1983, Chairman of Peoples Democratic Republic of Nigeria (PDP) 2001-2005 and Minister of Agriculture and Food Security 2015-2019. All of these serve as evidence of his faith in the prospects of participatory politics.

“Ever since, he built for himself an impressive profile of immense goodwill and affection among his people, as a frontline politician and community leader.

“Chief Audu Ogbeh will be missed for his unwavering commitment to politics, governance and democracy, as he made significant contributions to the re-establishment of democracy in Nigeria. His place will be very difficult to fill within his community, the state, the party and the nation.

“May God console his wife and the entire family. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”