The family of Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya has announce the passing of the former Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff.
A statement by the family said he passed onto glory in the early hours of Sunday, 26th of March 2023.
“On behalf of the entire Diya family, we announce the passing of our dearest Daddy, Granddad, Brother and Husband, Lt. General Donaldson Oladipo Diya (rtd) GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni.
Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of today 26th March 2023.
Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period. Further announcements will be made in due course,” the statement by Prince Oyedamola Diya reads.
The late General Donaldson Oladipo Diya was born on 3rd April 1944, in Odogbolu, Ogun State, South-west Nigeria.
Before his death on 26th March 2023, he was a Nigerian 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.
General Diya joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and fought during the Nigerian Civil War before he later attended the US Army School of Infantry, the Command and Staff College, Jaji (1980–1981) and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.
While serving in the military, Diya studied law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained an LLB degree and then at the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to bar as Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Oladipo Diya was also Commander 31, Airborne Brigade. He became General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigeria Army in 1985 and was Commandant, National War College (1991–1993) before he was appointed Chief of Defence Staff.
He was Military Governor of Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985.
