Former Minister of Defence, and also of Internal Affairs, Major General Godwin Osagie Retired Abbe is dead.
Abbe who also served as Governor of Akwa Ibom and Rivers States during his military career died on Saturday night in Abuja after a protracted illness.
Family sources confirmed the passage
He was born on January 10, 1949. He would have turned 76 on January 10, 2025.
He attended United Baptist School, Benin City, 1953-60, Iguodala Secondary Modern School, Benin City, 1961, Kiriji Memorial College, Igbajo, Ifelodun, Oyo State, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; enlisted in the Nigerian Army, July 1967, and attended various military courses, including Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Air-Borne/Infantry Officer Advanced Course, US Army Infantry School, Fort- Benning, Georgia, USA, 1972-73, Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, Teshie, 1978-80.
The late General enlisted into the Nigerian Army and was promoted Lance Corporal, 1967. He became Lieutenant in 1969; Battalion Commander, 1969-72; promoted Captain, 1971; Instructor (Company Officer), Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, 1974-76; promoted Major, 1975; Staff Officer Grade I, 2 Divisional Headquarters, NA, and Directing Staff, Senior Division, Command and Staff College, Jaji, 1979-80.
He became the First Nigerian Directing Staff on Secondment to Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, Teshie, 1980-82; and, promoted Lieutenant Colonel, 1983.
He was promoted to Colonel, 1986; was the Commander, 2nd Mechanised Division Garrison, Ibadan, up to 1988; appointed Military Governor, Akwa Ibom State,1988-1990; Passed Staff College (PSC); National Decoration: Forces Service Star (FSS) Medal, 1985.
General Abbe, CFR, Nigeria’s most decorated military officer of Edo extraction, was one time the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division Nigerian Army; Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and Commander, National War College, now National Defence College, Nigeria.
He retired in 1999 with the rank of Major General. He was appointed Minister of Interior on July 26, 2007; minister of Defence July 14, 2009 – 17 March 2010. He was a former chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Edo State.
Gen Abbe whose honours include the Distinguished Service Star DSS; Pass Staff College PSc; National Institute MNI loved .playing squash, hunting, masonry.