Lt. General Oladipo Diya, the former Chief of General Staff to the late military Head of States, General Sanni Abacha, is dead. He was age...
Lt. General Oladipo Diya, the former Chief of General Staff to the late military Head of States, General Sanni Abacha, is dead.
He was aged 79 years.
Lt. Gen. Diya died in the early hours of today, Sunday, March 26, 2023.
His death was announced in a statement issued by his son, Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, a lawyer, on behalf of the family.
Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya was the Chief of the General Staff in the government of the military dictator, Gen. Sanni Abacha between 1994 and 1997.
He was also at a time, the Military Governor of Ogun State between January 1984 and August 1985.
The statement by his son, Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, a lawyer stated:
"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."
Lt. Gen. Diya and some soldiers in the military allegedly planned to overthrow the regime of Abacha.
After a military tribunal trial, Lt. Gen Diya and his cohorts were found guilty of the offence of attempted coup brought against them by the government of Gen. Sanni Abacha.
Lt. Gen. Diya had defended himself saying the attempted coup was a "set up" and that it was planned "from the top down".
While some of the coup plotters were sentenced to various years of imprisonment, the military tribunal sentenced Lt. Gen.Diya and a few others to death.
However, this was overturned after the untimely death of Abacha in 1998 by his successor, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar who granted them freedom.
Before Abacha's death, some traditional rulers, including Awujale of Ijebuland, Kabiyesi Dr Sikiru Adetona, had intervened and pleaded with him not to kill the coup plotters.
Years after, President Goodluck Jonathan, through the National Council of State, later granted state pardon to the former chief of staff, Supreme Headquarters, Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya alongside others including the late Maj.-Gen. Shehu Musa Yar'Adua; Major Bello Magaji, Mohammed Lima Biu, Maj.-Gen. Abdulkareem Adisa, Maj.-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, Col. Edwin Jando, Major Segun Fadipe and amongst others.
About a week later, in March, 2013, the military authority of the Nigerian Army, restored the ranks of all former military officers who were granted state pardon by the National Council of State.
Aside Lt.Gen. Oladipo Diya, others include the late Maj. Gen. Abdulkareem Adisa, Major Bello Mogaji and Major Segun Fadile.
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