Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has mourned the passing of elder statesman, patriarch and former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Innocent Audu Ogbeh, who died on Saturday, at the age of 78.
In a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, Governor Alia expressed regrets over the death of the former lawmaker, who was elected into the Benue State House of Assembly on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), in 1979, where he was the deputy speaker.
According to him, as a politician, former Federal Minister of Communications, former Minister of Steel Development, former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), farmer and playwright, the late Chief Ogbeh lived a successful and fulfilled life, and was greatly respected and admired by many, adding that his legacies will always be remembered.
He prayed to God to grant his immediate family, the Idoma nation, the entire people of Benue State and Nigeria as a whole, the fortitude to bear this great loss, and to also grant the soul of Chief Audu Ogbeh eternal rest.
In a related development, Governor Alia commiserated with the family of the Executive Secretary of the Benue Examinations Board, Ade Ishoribo, Ph.D, over the demise of their father, husband, Uncle and brother, whose demise took place on Friday, August 8th, 2025.
He described the deceased secretary as a gentleman, whose impact at the State Examinations Board started yielding positive results, saying it was unfortunate that death cut short his work at the Board.
The governor prayed to God to grant his immediate family, Staff of the Benue State Examinations Board, the people of Guma LGA and Benue State at large, the solace to bear the irreparable loss, and to equally grant Dr. Ade Ishoribo, eternal rest.
The statement said Governor Alia has already sent a delegation, led by his Chief of Staff, Barr. Moses Atagher, who has visited the Ishoribo family, and also extended the sympathies of the government and people of the State over the sudden passing of the Benue State Examinations Board Secretary and former Chairman of Guma Local Government Council.
