One year after: Iwodi pays tribute to Audu Ogbeh, says his legacy lives on

Dr Adogo F. Iwodi has paid tribute to former Minister of Agriculture and elder statesman, Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh, on the first anniversary of his death, describing him as a father, mentor and towering voice of the Idoma nation.

Iwodi, in a tribute marking the anniversary, said Ogbeh’s absence remained deeply felt one year after his passing, noting that the vacuum created by his death had been difficult to fill.

According to him, the late statesman was not only a distinguished son of Idoma land but also a respected voice in Northern Nigeria and a national figure whose counsel was valued across the country.

“A year has gone by, yet the weight of your absence remains deeply felt. Time may have moved forward, but the vacuum created by your departure remains difficult to fill,” he said.

Iwodi said Ogbeh distinguished himself through decades of service in public leadership, agriculture, education, community development and national affairs.

He described the former minister as a leader who spoke with wisdom, courage, moderation and conviction at critical moments in Nigeria’s history.

“You spoke not merely to be heard, but because you believed that leadership carried a sacred responsibility to society and to generations yet unborn,” he said.

Iwodi said Ogbeh occupied a special place in the history of the Idoma people, describing him as one of the nation’s towering voices and a source of pride.

“To the Idoma Nation, you were one of our towering voices and a source of pride. To Northern Nigeria, you were an elder whose experience transcended boundaries. To Nigeria, you were a statesman who devoted significant years of his life to public service and nation-building,” he added.

Reflecting on his personal relationship with the late statesman, Iwodi described Ogbeh as a father, teacher, mentor, leader and source of wisdom and inspiration.

He said there were still moments when challenges confronting the people made him wonder what Ogbeh would have said or what counsel he would have offered.

According to him, the continued longing for Ogbeh’s counsel was evidence of the impact he made during his lifetime. 

“Chief Audu Ogbeh, your physical voice may have become silent, but the principles you stood for continue to speak.

“Your footprints remain. Your contributions remain. Your wisdom remains in the hearts of those you taught and mentored,” Iwodi said.

He added that rather than remember the former minister only with sorrow, the first anniversary of his death should also be an occasion to thank God for his life, the people he influenced and the legacy he left behind.

“The vacuum remains. The memories remain. The lessons remain. And above all, your legacy lives on,” he said.

Iwodi prayed for the continued repose of Ogbeh’s soul and for the wisdom and courage to preserve the values and ideals for which the elder statesman lived.

“One year gone, but never forgotten,” he added.