Godwin Abbe Explained

Godwin Osagie Abbe
Honorific Prefix:Major General
Office1:Governor of Akwa Ibom State
Term Start1:31 July 1988
Term End1:5 September 1990
Predecessor1:Tunde Ogbeha
Successor1:Idongesit Nkanga
Order2: 
Office2:Military Governor of Rivers State
Term Start2:August 1990
Term End2:January 1992
Predecessor2:Ernest Olawunmi Adelaye
Successor2:Rufus Ada-George
Office3:Nigerian Minister of Interior
Term Start3:26 July 2007
Term End3:14 July 2009
Predecessor3:Oluyemi Adeniji
Successor3:Shettima Mustapha
Office4:Defence Minister of Nigeria
Term Start4:14 July 2009
Term End4:17 March 2010
Predecessor4:Shettima Mustapha
Successor4:Adetokunbo Kayode
Birth Date:10 January 1949
Birth Place:Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
Serviceyears:1967–1999
Rank: Major General

Godwin Osagie Abbe (born 10 January 1949) in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria is a retired[1] Nigerian Army Major General and former Defence Minister of Nigeria from 2009 to 2010. He served as the Nigerian Minister of Interior from 2007 to 2009.[2]

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 is 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.[3]

He was military governor of Akwa Ibom State 1988–1990) and Rivers State (1990–1991).[4] He 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.[5]

Politician

After leaving the army, Godwin Abbe joined People's Democratic Party in 1999, and became chairman of the party in Edo State.[5]

Minister of Interior

President Umaru Yar'Adua appointed Godwin Abbe as the Nigerian 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.[6]

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.[7] Soon after, he was appointed Minister of Defense, a key role in implementing the amnesty.[2]

Minister of Defense

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.[8] In October 2009, speak 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.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016-06-28 . Abbe states obstacle to true federalism . 2022-03-18 . The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News . en-US.
  2. Web site: Cabinet Shake-up : Yar’Adua moves Godwin Abbe to Defence Ministry . 14 July 2009 . Daniel Idonor . . 2009-12-07.
  3. Web site: Brief on Ministers . African Choice News USA . 2007-09-14 . Mohammed Momoh . 2009-12-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110903101557/http://www.africanchoicenewsusa.net/view_article.php?id=17 . 3 September 2011 .
  4. Web site: Salamatu Suleiman, Godwin Abbe: Where are they now? . Blueprint Newspapers . 2021-08-27 . 2023-06-04.
  5. Web site: We Are Focusing On Modernisation Of The Armed Forces – Abbe . 5 November 2009 . Leadership Nigeria . 2009-12-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713192721/http://leadershipnigeria.com/index.php/columns/views/interview/8050-we-are-focusing-on-modernisation-of-the-armed-forces--abbe . 2011-07-13 .
  6. Web site: Britain to help restructure police force . Panafrican News Agency (PANA) . 2007-11-27 . 2009-12-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091218034424/http://www.afrika.no/Detailed/15521.html . 2009-12-18.
  7. Web site: Nigeria to unveil amnesty programme for militants . Reuters . 4 June 2009 . 2009-12-07.
  8. Web site: FG begins manhunt for sponsors of illegal oil bunkering . 21 September 2009 . Kingsley Omonobi . Vanguard . 2009-12-07.
  9. Web site: Post-amnesty: How Govt'll engage ex-militants – Abbe . 5 October 2009 . Vanguard . Emma Amaize & Jimitota Onoyume . 2009-12-07.