A former Chief of General Staff (CGS), Gen. Oladipo Diya, is dead.
According to Barr. Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, the former military administrator passed onto glory in the early hours of Sunday, March 26, 2023.
The statement which was released by Barr. Oyesinmilola Diya, on behalf of the family read, “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 Donalds Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (rtd) GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni.
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“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.”
Born in 3rd of April, 1944, the late Gen. Diya was military Governor of Ogun State after the Buhari/Idiagbon coup of December 31st, 1983.
Gen. Diya joined the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), 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 (NIPSS), Kuru.
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While serving in the military, the late Gen. Diya studied law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State 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 (military Vice President) to Gen. Sani Abacha.
It was as the CGS that he was arrested for planning a coup to unseat Abacha.
He was thereafter condemned to death by firing squad along with men like Maj.-Gen Abdulkarim Adisa on April 28 1998.