After Surviving Abacha’s Death Sentence, Lt General Diya, Former Chief Of General Staff, Dies At 78

By Akinwale Kasali

The former Chief of General Staff, Lt General Oladipo Diya, under the Military Rule of Late Sani Abacha is  dead.

Diya died in the early hours of  Sunday, 26th March, 2023.

Announcing his death, on behalf of the family home and abroad, Prince Oyesinmilola Diya asked for prayers.

A Statement released  by the family  Sunday morning 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 Donald 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 former Military Governor of Ogun State after the Buhari/idiagbon coup of December 31st, 1983 was born on 3rd April, 1944.

He was enlisted into 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, Kuru.

While serving in the Military, Diya studied Law at the 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 (Military Vice President) to Gen Sani Abacha.

It was as the CGS that he was arrested for, allegedly, planning a coup d’etat to unseat Abacha.

He was, thereafter, condemned to death by firing squad along with others, including the late Maj.-Gen Abdulkarim Adisa on April 28 1998.

The Late Diya lost his second wife Folashade, allegedly to COVID-19 in 2020.