The former military Vice President of Nigeria, Lt Gen Oladipo Diya is dead. He died in the early hours of Sunday in Lagos, according to his family. He was 79 years old.
Gen Diya was Chief of General Staff(equivalent of Vice President) to the late Gen Sani Abacha, the military maxim Head of State between 1994 and 1998.
His son, Simi, in a statement announcing his demise 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. Barrister Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, on behalf of the family”.
During his time as CGS, Diya arrested for treason in 1997. He was alleged to have planned a coup to topple the government of Abacha. He was tried alongside other senior officers such as Gen Abdulkareem Adisa, General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, and a host of others. He was sentenced to death but before the sentence could be carried out, General Abacha died. He was later released with others by Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar who became the Head of State after Abacha.
He previously served as Chief of Defence Staff and was Military Governor of Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985.
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