General Godwin Abbe, a former Minister of Defence and Interior under the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, has passed away at the age of 74.
The retired Major General reportedly died on Saturday in Abuja after a prolonged illness.
Born on January 10, 1949, Abbe was nearing his 75th birthday in 2025. He had a decorated career as both a military officer and a public servant. Notably, he served as the Military Governor of Akwa Ibom State from 1988 to 1990 and Rivers State from 1990 to 1992. A graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations, Abbe also attended prestigious institutions such as the United States Army Infantry School in Fort Benning, the Ghana Armed Forces Staff College, and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.
During his distinguished military career, Abbe held significant roles, including General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Commander of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), and Commander at the National War College. He retired from the Nigerian Army in 1999 with the rank of Major General.
A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abbe later served as Nigeria’s Minister of Defence from 2007 to 2009 and as Minister of Interior during the same administration, leaving behind a legacy of service in both military and civil capacities.
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