Gen Godwin Osagie Abbe rtd is dead.
He died on Sunday after a a protracted illness, a family source has confirmed .
Born 10 January 1949 in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria he was a retired Nigerian Army Major General and former Defence Minister
Before then, he served as the Nigerian Minister of Interior.
Godwin Abbe joined the military in 1967 as a private, and was commissioned second lieutenant in July 1968, and subsequently promoted colonel in 1986. He served during the Nigerian Civil War.
He was 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.
Gen Abbe was the military governor of Akwa Ibom State 1988–1990) and Rivers State (1990–1991).
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.