Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has commiserated with the government and people of Nigeria, as well as the military, friends and associates of the Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya who passed away on Sunday, 26th March 2023.
Governor Abiodun described the departed Army General as a seasoned administrator, gentleman and officer whose contributions to the development of the security architecture of Nigeria would remain indelible, adding that others carried on where he left off and Ogun State would not forget Diya’s role in its history.
“General Diya, as Chief of General Staff played his part as a Military strategist and his stabilising role during the military era can never be forgotten. As Military Administrator of Ogun State, he was exemplary in the enforcement of the War Against Indiscipline with focus on a cleaner environment.
“He was courageous and daring, quick-witted and patriotic. Gen. Diya played frontline roles in the evolution and development of the state and his activities in the military, in part led to the eventual return and enthronement of democracy in the country in 1999,” the Governor state.
He called on the family members, friends and associates of the departed leader who hailed from Odogbolu in the Ogun East Senatorial District of the State to take solace in the fact that the late soldier-statesman played the parts assigned to him by providence diligently, conscientiously and patriotically meritoriously.
While praying Almighty God to grant the late Diya’s soul eternal rest, Governor Abiodun also enjoined Nigerians to emulate the good virtues that he left behind.
General Diya served as Chief of the General Staff (de facto Vice President of Nigeria) under military from 1994 until his arrest for treason in 1997.
He previously served as Chief of Defence Staff and was Military Governor for Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985 under the Buhari/Idiagbon military junta.
General Diya would have turned 79 on 3rd, April 2023.
