Oladipo Diya, Abacha’s ex-No 2, is dead

Oladipo Diya, who was the Chief of General Staff to the former military dictator, Sani Abacha, is dead. 

Diya died at the age of 79.

Oyesinmilola Diya, in a statement signed on behalf of the family, said Diya died in the early hours of Sunday.

“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,” the statement reads.

“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.”

He was the Chief of the General Staff between 1994 and 1997. However, he was arrested for treason in 1997.

Diya and some soldiers in the military allegedly planned to overthrow the regime of Abacha, and Diya and his cohorts were jailed. He was tried in a military tribunal and was given the death penalty. However, this was overturned after the untimely death of Abacha in 1998 by his successor, Abdusalami Abubakar. During his time in the army, Diya also served as chief of defence staff and was the military governor of Ogun state from January 1984 to August 1985. The late Lt. General Diya, soldier, and lawyer, was born Monday, 3 April 1944 in Odogbolu, Ogun State, South-west Nigeria.

Author: Dr. Funmi Beckley

fumbeck@gmail.com

Abeokuta, Nigeria