Abadula Gemeda was born Minase Woldegiorgis in Arsi Zone, Oromia Region, on 5 July 1958.
The name Abadula Gemeda is a pseudonym or 'nom de guerre' he obtained at some point during his life.
Abbaa Duulaa is the traditional title of the war leader of the Oromo people, an aristocratic horse name.
He resigned on 7 October 2017; the Addis Standard reported that it was in protest of Federal government's handling of clashes surrounding the boundary dispute between the Oromo and Somali regions.
[4] However he later withdrew his resignation after consultations in this government, remaining in office until April 2018 when he was replaced by Muferiat Kamil.