The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun and the Federal Executive Council FEC have joined Nigerians to express condolence over the passing of the former Chief of General Staff (CGS), Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd).
Abiodun took to Twitter to reveal a condolence message, saying the former general would have clocked 79 next week.
He wrote: “We have received the sad news of Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya’s death. The former Chief of General Staff would have turned 79 next week.
“The departed Army general was a seasoned administrator, gentleman and officer whose contributions to the development of the security architecture of Nigeria will remain indelible, and Ogun State will not forget his role in her history.
“We express our deepest condolences to his immediate family, friends and associates, and admonish them to take solace in the fact that the late soldier-statesman played the part assigned him by providence diligently, conscientiously, patriotically and meritoriously.
“May the Almighty God grant his soul eternal rest.”
FEC mourns former Chief of General Staff, Diya
The Federal Executive Council FEC through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Boss Mustapha, mourned the former Chief of General Staff, saying his death condolence came as a shock.
In a statement released by the Director Information in the Office of the SGF, Willie Bassey, General Diya was described as a seasoned military officer who performed excellently well in various positions he found himself.
“FEC condoles with the government and people of Ogun State, his family and friends, and prays to God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest”, he stated.
Diya, GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni (1944 – 2023) was a military general and lawyer who served as Chief of General Staff and the de-facto vice president of Nigeria under the former military head of state, General Sani Abacha from 1994 until he (Diya) was arrested for treason in 1997.
He was a Chief of Defence Staff and was military Governor of Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985.
In 1997 Diya and some military officers allegedly staged a coup to overthrow the government of Abacha.
The alleged coup was uncovered by loyalists of Abacha and Diya and other alleged coupists were jailed.
A military tribunal tried Diya and others and was given death penalty.
The former head of state, Abdusalami Abubakar secured the freedom of Diya following the untimely death of Abacha.
The Informant247 earlier reported that the famous retired Lieutenant-General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya has died at the age of 78.
The Chief of Staff to the former Head of State, General Sani Abacha gave up the ghost in the early hours of Sunday March 26.
He was a lawyer and a military administrator of Ogun State.
The passing of the retired military officer was announced by Barrister Prince Oyesinmilola Diya on behalf of the family.
Diya was borne on April 3, 1944, and served in various leadership positions including Chief of Staff to Gen Sani Abacha.
“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,” the statement reads.
