The immediate past Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Emmanuel Jime, has described late Audu Ogbeh as a selfless leader who inspired many while in the public service.

Mr Jime stated that Mr Ogbeh was the greatest Benue ambassador to the country.

The former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party died on Saturday at the age of 78.

Mr Jime said he received the news of the death of Mr Ogbeh, who served his nation selflessly, with “rude shock”.

He said the late former lecturer of Murtala College of Arts, Science and Technology personified the exact description of a public-spirited individual who was a great inspiration to many in the country.

“I just received with rude shock the announcement of the passing of one of Benue’s greatest ambassadors to the Nigerian nation, Chief Innocent Audu Mr Ogbeh.

“A very brilliant and visionary leader. For me, he remains a great inspiration that public service is indeed a place where you discharge responsibilities of serving the nation with distinction. We all mourn. This nation has lost a great patriot, and indeed the comfort, if there is any in the passing of any man, is in the legacies that you leave behind.

“If a man like Ogbeh has left such a great legacy of good public service to his nation, that is the kind of legacy that all of us must aspire to leave and be remembered for. So, even though we are mourning, we have to reflect deeply on our lives and see whether Ogbe and his likes are our shining light and guardian angels,” he said.

Mr Jime, who was the 2019 Benue APC governorship candidate, further extended his deepest condolences to the family and all men of good conscience over the death of Mr Ogbeh.

“I also like to extend my deepest condolences not only to his immediate family but indeed to all men and women of good faith. Ogbe inspired all of us. This is a tragic loss of monumental proportion,” he said.

(NAN)