MAJOR GENERAL GODWIN OSAGIE ABBE BIOGRAPHY, CAREER, CONTROVERSIES AND DEATH

Mercy | December 25, 2024 | Find It | No Comments

Major General Godwin Osagie Abbe (10 January 1949 – 21 December 2024) was a distinguished Nigerian military officer and politician, renowned for his service as Minister of Defence and Minister of Interior, as well as his tenure as Military Governor in two Nigerian states.

MAJOR GENERAL GODWIN OSAGIE ABBE PROFILE

Name	Major General Godwin Osagie Abbe
Real Name	Godwin Osagie Abbe
Date of Birth	10 January 1949
Date of Death	21 December 2024
State of origin	Edo State
Tribe	Edo
Nationality	Nigerian
Occupation	Military Officer and Politician
Religion	Christian
Marital Status	Married
Net Worth	N/A
Copied From	Contents101.com

MAJOR GENERAL GODWIN OSAGIE ABBE BIOGRAPHY

Born on 10 January 1949 in Benin City, Edo State, General Abbe grew alongside his parents.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Abbe attended United Baptist School in Benin City from 1953 to 1960. He furthered his education by earning a postgraduate diploma in International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.

His military education included training at the United States Army Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia, the Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru.

CAREER

Abbe enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1967 as a private and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in July 1968. He served during the Nigerian Civil War and rose through the ranks, achieving the position of colonel in 1986. He held significant command roles, including General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2nd Division, Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), and Commander of the National War College.

Abbe retired from the military in 1999 with the rank of Major General. Following his military service, Abbe transitioned into politics as a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999 and served as the party’s chairman in Edo State. He was appointed Minister of Interior on 26 July 2007 by President Umaru Yar’Adua. On 14 July 2009, he was appointed Minister of Defence.

Abbe served as the Military Governor of Akwa Ibom State from 31 July 1988 to 5 September 1990, and subsequently as the Military Governor of Rivers State from August 1990 to January 1992.

CONTROVERSIES

During his tenure as Minister of Defence, Abbe was involved in the implementation of the Niger Delta amnesty program, which aimed to disarm militants and reintegrate them into society. While the program initially achieved some success in reducing violence and increasing oil production, it later faced challenges, including allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

Reports indicated that funds meant for the program were misappropriated, leading to its derailment and raising questions about the effectiveness and transparency of the initiative.