A former Chief of General Staff under the Abacha Military Government, Lt-Gen. Donaldson Oladipo Diya (Rtd), is dead.
Diya, who was at a point vice chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC) when the Gen. Sani Abacha was military Head of State, died in the early hours of Sunday.
According to a terse statement from his family signed one of his children Oyesinmilola Diya, on Sunday, he said their father dies in the early hours of the day.
The statement reads in full: “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.”
Donaldson Oladipo Diya (3 April 1944 – 26 March 2023) was a military general who served as Chief of the General Staff, (de facto Vice President of Nigeria) under military head of state General Sani Abacha from 1994 until his arrest for treason in 1997.
He was also a governor of his home state Ogun. After his arrest and trail in 1997 he was sentenced to death for treason but was saved from the hangman’s noose by the death of his boss Gen Abacha.
Details Later…
