Farewell to a Statesman: My last conversation with Chief Audu Ogbeh – Bello Bala Shagari

Just two weeks ago, I was at the residence of Chief Audu Ogbeh, discussing plans for Shagari at 100, a celebration of the life and legacy of the late President Shehu Shagari and, by extension, the Second Republic. We also spoke about the passing of President Muhammadu Buhari, among other matters.

In that conversation, Chief Ogbeh revealed why he was never reappointed as Minister of Agriculture: certain international business interests had waged a campaign against him because his policies threatened their import-dependent ventures— ventures that were harming Nigeria’s economy.

He refused to compromise, and they succeeded in lobbying him out. He was denied access to the President and believed President Buhari had been misled, even though everything he did was in line with the President’s aspirations.

That day, he agreed to chair the Shagari at 100 Committee, with me as Secretary. We reflected on how most of his contemporaries had passed on, and how special it would be to gather and honour those still with us.

We counted the few people who are still alive among his colleagues. Sadly, fate decided he would not live to see it either. We shared many memorable recollections among them, how Shehu Shagari confided in him about a plot to assassinate him during his second swearing-in at Tafawa Balewa Square, and how Shagari appeared bulky that day because he wore a bulletproof vest. Shagari said to him, “Audu, are you coming to the swearing-in ceremony?”

And he said, “Why not, sir?” And Shagari added, “Are you not afraid?” We laughed about it then, not knowing it would be our last meeting.

However, in an interview I had with him around 2014, he shared remarkable, little-known pieces of Nigerian historical accounts that will be revealed in my forthcoming documentary, One Nation, One Destiny.

Chief Audu Ogbeh was one of the last of his kind: an honest politician, a devoted public servant, and a passionate farmer who generously offered solutions to end the herder–farmer clashes. He carried a wealth of knowledge that I wish he had committed to a book. I intended to urge him to write his memoir at our next meeting. That meeting never came, only the news of his passing.

To me, he was a father and a mentor whom I never hesitated to reach out to whenever the need arose. He will be remembered by many whose lives he has touched during his lifetime.

Born on 24th July 1947, he was Minister of Communication later Steel Development in the second republic under President Shagari, before eventually serving as PDP chairman under President Obasanjo and Minister of Agriculture under President Buhari’s first term. He died on August 9, 2025. My condolences to his entire family and friends, and the good people of Benue State.