Godwin Abbe
{{Short description|Nigerian politician (1949–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Godwin Osagie Abbe
|honorific_prefix = Major General
|image = Godwin Abbe 2.jpg
|caption =
|office1 = Governor of Akwa Ibom State
|term_start1 = 31 July 1988
|term_end1 = 5 September 1990
|predecessor1 = Tunde Ogbeha
|successor1 = Idongesit Nkanga
|order2 = {{flagicon|Nigeria}}
|office2 = Military Governor of Rivers State
|term_start2 = August 1990
|term_end2 = January 1992
|predecessor2 = Ernest Olawunmi Adelaye
|successor2 = Rufus Ada George
|office3 = Minister of Interior
|term_start3 = 26 July 2007
|term_end3 = 14 July 2009
|predecessor3 = Oluyemi Adeniji
|successor3 = Shettima Mustapha
|office4 = Minister of Defence
|term_start4 = 14 July 2009
|term_end4 = 17 March 2010
|predecessor4 = Shettima Mustapha
|successor4 = Adetokunbo Kayode
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1949|01|10}}
|birth_place = Benin City, Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2024|12|21|1949|01|10}}
|death_place =
|party =
|allegiance = {{NGR}}
|branch = {{army|Nigeria}}
|serviceyears = 1967–1999
|rank = 20px Major General
}}
Godwin Osagie Abbe (10 January 1949 – 21 December 2024) was a Nigerian Army Major General who served as minister of defence from 2009 to 2010.{{cite news|date=28 June 2016|title=Abbe states obstacle to true federalism|url=https://guardian.ng/features/abbe-states-obstacle-to-true-federalism/|last=Aliu|first=Alemma-Ozioruva|access-date=21 September 2024|work=The Guardian}} He also served as minister of interior from 2007 to 2009.{{cite news|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/07/14/cabinet-shake-up-yar%E2%80%99adua-moves-godwin-abbe-to-defence-ministry/|title=Cabinet Shake-up : Yar'Adua moves Godwin Abbe to Defence Ministry|date=14 July 2009|last=Idonor|first=Daniel|newspaper=Vanguard|access-date=7 December 2009}}
Military career
Godwin Abbe joined the military in 1967 as a private, was commissioned second lieutenant in July 1968, and was promoted colonel in 1986. He served during the Nigerian Civil War.
He earned a postgraduate diploma in International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
He was also a graduate of the United States Army Infantry School Fort Benning, Georgia, Ghana Armed Forces Staff College and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic studies, Kuru.{{cite news|url=http://africanchoicenewsusa.net/view_article.php?id=17|title=Brief on Ministers|publisher=African Choice News USA|date=14 September 2007|last=Momoh|first=Mohammed|access-date=7 December 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903101557/http://www.africanchoicenewsusa.net/view_article.php?id=17|archive-date=3 September 2011}}
He was military governor of Akwa Ibom State 1988–1990) and Rivers State (1990–1991).{{cite web|title=Salamatu Suleiman, Godwin Abbe: Where are they now?|work=Blueprint|date=27 August 2021|url=https://www.blueprint.ng/salamatu-suleiman-godwin-abbe-where-are-they-now/|access-date=4 June 2023}}
Abbe then became general officer commanding (GOC) 2 Division Nigerian Army; Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and Commander, National War College. He retired in 1999 with the rank of major general.{{cite news|url=https://leadershipnigeria.com/index.php/columns/views/interview/8050-we-are-focusing-on-modernisation-of-the-armed-forces--abbe|title=We Are Focusing On Modernisation Of The Armed Forces – Abbe|date=5 November 2009|work=Leadership|access-date=7 December 2009}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}
Politician
After leaving the army, Godwin Abbe joined People's Democratic Party in 1999, and became chairman of the party in Edo State.
=Minister of Interior=
President Umaru Yar'Adua appointed Godwin Abbe as the minister of interior on 26 July 2007.
At a meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government in Kampala, Uganda, in November 2007, Abbe met British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and asked for assistance in restructuring the police force, which was suffering from low morale due to poor welfare, inadequate training and lack of vital work tools.{{cite news|url=https://www.afrika.no/Detailed/15521.html|title=Britain to help restructure police force|agency=Panafrican News Agency (PANA)|date=27 November 2007|access-date=7 December 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218034424/https://www.afrika.no/Detailed/15521.html|archive-date=18 December 2009}}
As minister of the interior, Godwin Abbe was chairman of a committee that recommended an amnesty programme for gunmen in the Niger Delta, an important step towards improving output of oil and gas.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL41037145|work=Reuters|title=Nigeria to unveil amnesty programme for militants|date=4 June 2009|access-date=7 December 2009}}
Soon after, he was appointed minister of defence, a key role in implementing the amnesty.
=Minister of Defence=
In September 2009, Abbe said that the amnesty would not prevent security operatives from going after illegal oil bunkerers, who he said would be treated as enemies of the state.{{cite news|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/09/21/fg-begins-manhunt-for-sponsors-of-illegal-bunkering/comment-page-2/|title=FG begins manhunt for sponsors of illegal oil bunkering|date=21 September 2009|last=Omonobi|first=Kingsley|work=Vanguard|access-date=7 December 2009}}
In October 2009, speaking of Niger Delta militants who had accepted the government amnesty, Abbe gave assurances they would be rehabilitated, re-integrated and helped in every way possible to make them self-sustaining in life.{{cite news|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/10/05/post-amnesty-how-govtll-engage-ex-militants-abbe/|title=Post-amnesty: How Govt'll engage ex-militants – Abbe|date=5 October 2009|work=Vanguard|last1=Amaize|first1=Emma|last2=Onoyume|first2=Jimitota|access-date=7 December 2009}}
Death
Abbe died on 21 December 2024, at the age of 75.{{cite news |title=Ex-Defence, Interior Minister, General Godwin Osagie Abbe dies at 75 |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/12/ex-defence-interior-minister-general-godwin-osagie-abbe-dies-at-75/ |access-date=22 December 2024 |publisher=Vanguard |date=22 December 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Interior Ministers of Nigeria}}
{{NigerianDefenceMinisters}}
{{AkwaIbomStateGovernors}}
{{Nigeria Babangida Governors New States}}
{{RiversStateGovernors}}
{{Nigeria Babangida Governors}}
{{Cabinet of President Umaru Yar'Adua}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbe, Godwin}}
Category:Defence ministers of Nigeria
Category:Interior ministers of Nigeria
Category:Nigerian military governors of Akwa Ibom State
Category:Nigerian military governors of Rivers State
Category:Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria) politicians