Prince Abubakar AuduIn a solemn moment for Kogi State and Nigerian politics more broadly, the death of Prince Abubakar Audu marked not only the passing of a political figure but the closing of a chapter in the story of a man many regard as the architect of modern Kogi. His sudden departure left a profound void: he passed away on 22 November 2015, reportedly from a bleeding ulcer, even as he was leading in the governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Born on 24 (or 27) October 1947 into a royal family in Ogbonicha, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Audu combined traditional pedigree with global experience. He educated in Nigeria and later in London, studying banking and personnel management. He became a certified secretary, a Fellow of the Association of International Accountants (London), and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria.
Before entering public office, Audu built a distinguished banking career over 25 years, principally at First Bank (formerly Standard Bank), holding several senior roles. He also served as a senior manager for Standard Chartered in London and New York. In 1991, he was appointed Executive Director of FSB International Bank PLC.
His public service began years earlier when he was appointed as Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in the old Benue State (1986–1988), a role that heralded his future in governance. When Kogi State was created in 1991, Audu, one of its foremost advocates, contested and won the governorship under the National Republican Convention, becoming the first civilian governor in January 1992. He returned as governor in 1999 (this time under the All Nigeria Peoples Party) and served from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2003.
Throughout his leadership, Audu’s imprint on Kogi was transformative. Infrastructure, education, and institutional development were at the heart of his mission:
He launched housing schemes for public officers, delivering over 1,500 housing units in Lokoja.
Under his watch, Lokoja township received major upgrades: paved roads, streetlights, landscaped roundabouts, and rural road networks.
He oversaw more than 75 electrification schemes and initiated 50 water projects across the state.
In education, he founded Kogi State Polytechnic and Kogi State University (Anyigba), establishing key institutions that would serve generations.
He also expanded Kogi’s media footprint: creating a television station, AM and FM radio stations, and a state newspaper.
Symbolically, he converted the colonial Lord Lugard’s residence into a modern Government House Complex, while building new ministry office blocks and a commercial arcade.
On tourism and economic development, he built Confluence Beach Hotel, a five-star hotel in Lokoja, and funded a state stadium which became a center of recreation and community pride.
Perhaps most strategically, he championed Obajana Cement Factory, attracting international interest and investment.
Beyond physical infrastructure, Audu also nurtured Kogi’s relationship with the world. He maintained deep connections with foreign statesmen, including British Prime Minister John Major. During his time, his global network helped bolster Kogi’s profile and development opportunities.
His death in 2015 was deeply felt not just in Kogi, but across Nigeria. As he awaited the final election results, his passing created a political crisis: his party, the APC, eventually substituted his running mate, Yahaya Bello, to continue the race. For many of his supporters, Audu’s death was not just a personal loss, it cut short a vision.
In more recent years, the memory of Prince Audu has been honored formally. In 2025, Kogi State inaugurated a committee to plan a 10-year memorial in his name. The government also held a special prayer session at the Government House Mosque in Lokoja, where his enduring contributions were celebrated, noting that many of his projects still serve the people today.
Those who knew him personally speak of his humanity, vision, and unrelenting drive. While there were critics who labeled him arrogant or too flamboyant, others saw in him a man of integrity, principled, and deeply committed to progress. In tribute, his son has described him as the “architect of modern Kogi,” citing his legacy in education, housing, energy, and state development.
Prince Abubakar Audu’s journey was one of contrasts: royal blood and global exposure, business acumen and political tenacity, controversy and legacy. But what remains undeniable is the imprint he left, a Kogi State that in many ways is still shaped by his dreams and decisions.
As Kogi marks the tenth anniversary of his passing, the conversations about his life and vision remind the state of the power of forward thinking leadership, and the profound cost when such a leader departs too soon.
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