Former Minister of Defence, and Internal Affairs, Major General Godwin Osagie Abbe, is dead.
Naijaonpoint learnt that Abbe died on Saturday night in Abuja after a protracted illness.
Family sources spoke with Vanguard and confirmed the demise of Abbe, who also served as Governor of Akwa Ibom and Rivers States during his military career.
The deceased was born on January 10, 1949, and would have turned 76 on January 10, 2025.
The former minister 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 to Lance Corporal, in 1967.
He became Lieutenant in 1969, Battalion Commander from 1969 to 1972, and Captain in 1971. He was also an instructor (Company Officer) at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna from 1974 to 1976 and a Major in 1975. He was also a Staff Officer Grade I at the 2 Divisional Headquarters in NA and the Directing Staff at the Senior Division of the Command and Staff College in Jaji from 1979 to 1980.
He became the First Nigerian Directing Staff on Secondment to Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, Teshie, 1980-82, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1983.
He was promoted to Colonel in 1986; was the Commander of the 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 once the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2nd Division of the Nigerian Army, Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), and Commander of the National War College, now the National Defence College.
He retired in 1999 with the rank of Major General. He was appointed Minister of Interior on July 26, 2007, and Minister of Defence from July 14, 2009, to March 17, 2010.
He was a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State.