The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has paid glowing tribute to Chief Audu Ogbeh, former Minister of Communications and Agriculture, describing him as a patriotic statesman whose decades of public service left an enduring mark on Nigeria’s unity and development.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, the Forum recalled Ogbeh’s journey from the Benue State House of Assembly to the national stage, where he held strategic positions and championed reforms with unwavering dedication.

“Chief Audu Ogbeh, who passed away at the age of 78, lived a purposeful and impactful life,” Yar’adua said. “He was a forthright Nigerian who placed the nation’s interest above all else, serving selflessly with a clear vision to reform and better our country.”

The NSF highlighted Ogbeh’s tenure as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development under President Muhammadu Buhari, noting landmark initiatives such as the Agricultural Inputs Mechanisation and Management Services (AIMMS) — a programme designed to improve transparency and curb fraud in the sector.

Describing him as “a leader whose vision went beyond politics into the fields and homes of Nigerian farmers,” Yar’adua urged today’s leaders to emulate Ogbeh’s virtues of patriotism, unity, and relentless commitment to national progress.

The Forum prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul and for God’s comfort upon his family, the people of Benue State, and all Nigerians mourning the loss of a true servant-leader.