A former Chief of General Staff in the Military Government of late Gen. Sani Abacha, Gen. Oladipupo Diya, has died, aged 79.
Diya passed on Sunday 26 March, 2023.
The passage was announced via a statement by his son, Mr. Oyesinmilola Diya, on behalf of the family this morning.
The statement reads: “On behalf of the entire Diya family home and abroad, we announce the passing on to Glory of our dear Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Lt- General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (Rtd) GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni.
“Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023. Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period. Further announcements will be made public in due course.
“Barrister Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, on behalf of the family.”
Born on 3April, 1944, Diya was military Governor of Ogun State after the Buhari-Idiagbon coup of 31 December, 1983.
Diya joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and fought during the Nigerian Civil War.
He later attended the US Army School of Infantry, the Command and Staff College, Jaji (1980–1981) and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.
While serving in the military, Diya studied law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained an LLB degree, and then at the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to bar as Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He held other top military posts like GOC, 82 Division and finally the Chief of General Staff (equivalent to Vice President) to Gen. Abacha.
He was implicated in an alleged coup plot by Gen. Abacha, arrested, tried and sentenced to death, which was later commuted to 25 years imprisonment.
However, Gen. Abacha died in June 1998 and Diya and others who survived the ordeal were later released by Abacha’s successor as Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.
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