General Sani Abacha’s former Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya, has passed away.
Sunday morning, his death was revealed in a statement by his son, Prince Oyesinmilola Diya.
It said, “On behalf of the whole Diya family at home and abroad, we announce the passage to glory of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, Lt. General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (ret.) GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni.
“Our beloved Daddy entered heaven in the early hours of March 26, 2023.” Please keep us in your prayers during this time of mourning for his passing. More announcements will be made in due time.”
The former Chief of General Staff was born in Odogbolu, Ogun State, on April 3, 1944.
Diya enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna and participated in the Nigerian Civil War.
In 1993, he was named Chief of General Staff, and in 1994, he was chosen Vice Chairman of the Interim Ruling Council.
As Chief of the General Staff, he was Nigeria’s second-in-command and de facto vice president under Abacha beginning in 1994.