It will always be the burden of the living to chronicle the laife of the departed. However it gives me no cheer to write about General Godwin Abbey in the past tense . And most of all, that he died in Abuja two days after I left the metropolis. He was my friend and close associate. We always joked that I knew his father before I got to know him. I knew his father in the 50s in Burutu.
Papa Abbey was an Inspector and headed the Police in Burutu. He was a tall fair man who rode around in a noisy red motorcycle. The clamour of the machine seemed to announce his power and children ran 8n his wake chanting Abbey Abbey. Many of us children thought Inspector Abbey owned the Police! His house was not only a home.
It was also a centre of social exchange. It was never silent. He was either settling cases or hosting a party or delivering one of his bagful of humorous stories. But I came into the General’s orbit in the 60s in Benin. He slipped into the army without the knowledge of his parents and clawed his way up from the other ranks. General Abbey was dragged to Biafra involuntarily but came back and continued his service as a federal soldier.
Abbey was distinguished in many ways. His humour often concealed his cerebral severity. But this enabled him to attain the officer ranks and enjoyed a steady climb until he became a General. His public life include being appointed Governor of Akwa Ibom and later Minister of Interior and Minister of Defence. Much of his work and policy application are responsible for the success of the Amnesty programme today. He was a very strict operator and had a limited social life. He married his wife remarkably early and both have a commonality of interests which makes them like juno swans.
In post retirement life, they have run a private school in Benin, where I once spied on General Abbey teaching civics to young Nigerian minds. He once gave me a job and I went back to him one evening to thank him the Nigerian way. He threw back whatever I was offering and clambered up in anger to sleep. I went home thoroughly distracted. He called later and told me our friendship will endure only if we stay on the narrow and straight.
He was unbending in his office and similarly strict at home. He has an all-male cast at home and successful in the professions, they demand no indulgences from their father. General Abbey was a high flier and in several of the courses he attended , he shone like a million stars and put nigeria on the map.
He was probably aware of his A-rating , for the General was never tired of intellectual jousts. He read books and literature of all kinds and raised questions . Last December he called me , Ramonu Omonzuanfo an ace photographer and Festus Ruppee , a journalist and treated us to lunch amid endless jokes. Before we left he gave us thoughtful gifts which we cherished. He reminded me he was my big brother. Swamped by a feeling of gratitude I raised no objections. That meeting was perhaps a window on eternity. I never knew.
We remained in touch by telephone but his passing has been a profound shock. We will be comforted by his legacy of service but will continue to be agitated by the governance miseries which privately concerned him till the very end. May his soul rest in peace.
