Breaking: General Abacha’s Chief Of General Staff Diya Is Dead

Lt. General Oladipo Diya, the former chief of general staff under the late head of state General Sani Abacha, has passed away.

On Sunday morning, Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, his son, released a statement to confirm his passing.

The former Chief of General Staff enlisted in the Nigerian Defense Academy in Kaduna after enrolling on April 3, 1944, and participated in the Nigerian Civil War. He was born in Odogbolu, Ogun State.

“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,” the statement read.

“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.”

Diya was appointed Chief of General Staff in 1993 and Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council in 1994. He was second in command and the de facto vice president of Nigeria under Abacha from 1994 as the Chief of the General Staff.

He lost his wife, Folashade, in 2020.