Ogbe, Ishoribo's Deaths Sadden Gov. Alia

Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia of Benue State has expressed deep sadness on the death of elder statesman, Chief Innocent Audu Ogbe. The patriarch who was former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as National Chairman of People's Democratic Party (PDP) died at the age of 78.

The statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Tersoo Kula explained that Governor Alia who received the sad news expressed regrets that the former Deputy Speaker elected into the Benue State House of Assembly on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1979 died at the time his counselling contributions as elder statesman were needed more than ever before.

According to the statement, the Governor stated however that Ogbe "as politician, former Federal Minister of Communications, former Minister of Steel Development, farmer and playwright lived a successful and fulfilled life, particularly respected and admired by many "his legacies will always be remembered."

The Governor prayed Almighty God to grant the deceased's "immediate family, the Idoma nation, the entire people of Benue State and Nigeria as a whole the fortitude to bear this great loss." He asked God to give the reposed soul eternal rest.

Similarly, Governor Alia has commiserated with the family of the Executive Secretary, Benue Examinations Board, Ade Ishoribo, Ph.D over the demise of the father, husband, uncle and brother, Dr. Ishoribo who passed on Friday, August 8th, 2025. He described the deceased as a gentleman whose impact at the State Examinations Board started yielding positive results. Alia who said the death was unfortunate added that it cut short the deceased valuable services and prayed God to grant the immediate family, staff of the board, people of Guma LGA and Benue State at large, the solace to bear the irreparable loss.  

Praying for eternal rest and forgiveness to the deceased administrator, Governor Alia sent a delegation, led by his Chief of Staff, Barrister Moses Atagher to visit the Ishoribo family. The delegation has extended sympathies of the government and people of the state to the family over the sudden passing of the Executive Secretary, then as former Chairman of Guma Local Government Council.