The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has stated, former Chief of General Staff, Lt Gen. Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (rtd) was a man of many parts, his life epitomised integrity and character.
He was a soldier and gentleman, a lawyer with an eventful career. He rose to the peak of his career as the Chief of General Staff ”, Abiodun stated these statements when he led a delegation from the state comprising past governor, members of the State Executive Council, said members of the council would set up a committee and liaise with the family to give the former military governor of the state ‘a befitting burial’ at the deceased Lagos home in Ikeja on Monday.
Abiodun said the late army general lived an impactful life worthy of emulation and further described his death as a great loss to Ogun in particular and the country in general, adding that the history of Ogun State would not be complete with Diya.
The newly re-elected governor, while praying for the repose of the soul of the deceased, urged the family members not to grieve over his death, saying he had impacted his generation and had gone home to rest with his Lord.
Responding on behalf of the family, one of the sons of the late General Diya, Oyedamola, thanked the governor for showing concerns to the family.
Diya was appointed Chief of General Staff in 1993 and Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council in 1994. As Chief of the General Staff to the then General Sanni Abach he was second in command and the de facto vice president of Nigeria under General Sani Abacha from 1994.
General Diya was Commandant of War College. He left army and continue to be part of humanity until his death.
General Oladipo Diya died early hours on remembered Sunday morning March 26th in the hands of his children.
The former Chief of General Staff was born on April 3, 1944 at Odogbolu in Ogun State, Nigeria and died (March 26, 2023), at the age of 78.