A former Chief of General Staff, Lt-General Oladipo Diya, is dead. He was 79 years old.
The late Gen. Diya served under the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
His death was announced this morning by his son, Barrister Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, on behalf of the family.
The short statement said that Diya died in the early hours of Sunday.
The statement reads in part:
“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 on April 3, 1944, Lt. Gen. Donaldson Oladipo Diya, hailed from Odogbolu in Ogun State.
He served as Chief of the General Staff under the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, from 1994 until his arrest for alleged treason in 1997.
Diya had previously served as Chief of Defence Staff as well as Military Governor of Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985.
Here is the obituary:
EXIT OF A PATRIOT
*On behalf of the entire Diya family home and abroad, we announce the passing on to Glory of our dear Father, Husband, Grandfather and Brother, Lt- General Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (Rtd) GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni. (3 April 1944 – 26 March 2023)_*
*He was a Nigerian Army General who served as Chief of General Staff, (de facto Vice-President of Nigeria) under military Head of State General Sani Abacha from 1994 until 1997. He previously served as Chief of Defence Staff and was Military Governor of Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985*
*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.*
Barrister Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, on behalf of the family.