Abbe, who also served as the Minister of Interior under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration, was Military Governor of Akwa Ibom State from 1988 to 1990, and of Rivers State from 1990 to 1992.
In addition to his military career, the late General earned a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in 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.
He served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2nd Division of the Nigerian Army, as well as the Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and the National War College.
The late Major General Abbe, who retired in 1999, later joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).