The former Chief of General Staff (CGS) during the military regime of Gen. Sani Abacha, Lt-Gen. Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (retd), died on March 26, 2023, a few days to his 79th birthday. The military tactician, lawyer, administrator and gentleman officer was a notable and popular member of Abacha regime from 1993 until his arrest for treason in 1997.
Before then, the military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, had annulled the June 12, 1993 election believed to have been won by a business mogul and philanthropist, Chief MKO Abiola, and installed an Interim National Government (ING) under the leadership of Chief Ernest Shonekan shortly before stepping aside in 1993. The ING contraption was later sacked by Gen, Sani Abacha in 1993 and Gen. Diya became his deputy.
Earlier, Diya had served as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and much later served as the military governor of Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985. Born in Odogbolu, in the present day Ogun State on April 3, 1944, Diya had his primary education at Yaba Methodist Primary School, Lagos and proceeded to Odogbolu Grammar School for his secondary education.
He later joined the elite Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna and fought during the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-1970. After the war, Diya attended the United States (US) Army School of Infantry as well as the Command and Staff College Jaji from 1980-1981.
Diya also attended the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru. While still serving in the military, he studied law at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and obtained an LLB degree. He also attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
In his brilliant military career that spanned some decades, Diya was the Commander 31, Airborne Brigade. He later became the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Nigerian Army in 1985. He was also the Commandant of the National War College from 1991 to1993 before he was appointed the Chief of Defence Staff in 1993 and the Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC) in 1993.
In his position as the Chief of General Staff, Oladipo Diya was like de facto Vice President of Nigeria during the Sani Abacha military junta from 1993 until he was arrested for treason in 1997. Diya’s rising and glorious military career was abruptly halted in 1997 when he and some perceived dissident soldiers in the military were alleged to have planned to overthrow the regime of Sani Abacha, a regime he was a top member of.
The alleged coup was reportedly uncovered by forces said to be loyal to Abacha. Diya and the affected soldiers were tried and jailed. Diya was specifically tried in a military tribunal and was given the death sentence. Following the sudden death of Abacha in 1998, Diya was pardoned by Abacha’s successor, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar.
Despite the pardon granted to Diya, he never quite recovered from the scars of the phantom coup. It is probable that Diya was a victim of power play within the nation’s military hierarchy on account of his rising profile, popularity and moderate views on the political situation in the country precipitated by the annulment of the June 12 election and the general clamour for its restoration and the strong opposition to elongation of military rule.
Since his demise, prominent Nigerians have commiserated with the family and eulogised the late military officer and accomplished administrator. In his tribute, President Muhammadu Buhari described Diya as a brilliant officer with exceptional skills and discipline. Similarly, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, lauded Diya’s glorious military career. Obasanjo stated that ‘in the course of his military career, which straddled more than three decades, he acquitted himself as a dedicated officer and a real patriot. From the thick of the Nigerian Civil War to the post-war re-organisation of the army, he distinguished himself as a seasoned soldier.’
In the death of Diya, the military has, no doubt, lost one of its dedicated and finest officers. He was a great soldier and a patriot. While we urge the government to immortalise Diya in view of his accomplishments as a soldier, we commiserate with the family, the military class and the federal government over the irreparable loss.
May God grant him eternal repose.