Audu Innocent Ogbeh was born on 28 July 1947. He was a farmer, playwright, and politician who served as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2015 to 2019. He was the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from 2001 until January 2005. He served as the Minister of Communications in the Second Republic from 1982 to 1983. He was known for his literary works and wrote five plays, including three published works. One of his plays, the Epitaph of Simon Kisulu, was staged at Muson Centre, Lagos in 2002.
Background
Ogbeh was born in present-day Benue State. He was of Idoma background. He attended King’s College, Lagos from 1967 to 1969, then studied at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1969 to 1972, and the University of Toulouse, France from 1973 to 1974. He lectured at the Institute of Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, from 1972 to 1976, and headed the Department of Humanities, Murtala College of Arts, Science and Technology from 1977 to 1979.
Political career
In 1979, he ran for office in the Benue State House of Assembly on the Platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), becoming Deputy Speaker of the House. In 1982, he was appointed Minister of Communications, and later became Minister of Steel Development. His term of office ended in December 1983, when a military coup brought Major-General Muhammadu Buhari to power.
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In 2001, he was appointed National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), replacing Chief Barnabas Gemade. He held this position until January 2005, when he was forced to resign due to his criticism of President Olusegun Obasanjo‘s handling of a crisis in Anambra State.
Talking to reporters, however, Ogbeh claimed that he resigned only to avoid conflict within the party and due to a desire to return to farming.
Later Career
In December 2005, Ogbeh formally resigned from the PDP.
As of 2009, he was chairman and managing director, Efugo Farms, Makurdi, and a member of Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships Incorporated, based in Philadelphia, United States of America.
