Diya’s death shocking, regrettable, says Uzodimma

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has said the passing of former Chief of General Staff of Nigeria during the military leadership of late General Sani Abacha, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd), is both shocking and regrettable.

Diya, according to a statement from Oyesinmola Diya, on behalf of the family, died in the early hours of yesterday.

He would have been 79 years old on April 3.

Uzodimma noted that with Diya’s death, Nigeria has lost another professional soldier, whose experiences are badly needed in the country today.

A statement by Uzodimma’s Chief Press Secretary/ Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachukwu, said the governor commiserated, not just the Diya family and his Odogbolu Community in Ogun State where he impacted lives, but also government and people of the state, the Nigerian military and Federal Government over the loss.

The governor, who said the good works of Diya are there for all to see, prayed God to grant his soul peaceful repose, and to those he left behind the fortitude to bear the huge loss.

Between 1993 and 1997, Diya held critical positions in the then military government of late Sani Abacha such as Chief of Defence Staff and, later, Chief of General Staff.

Prior to Abacha’s death, Diya was one of the few senior military officers under the junta’s regime undergoing trial for alleged treasonable felony and coup plot to unseat Abacha in 1997. He escaped being shot by sheer providence, following Abacha’s sudden death.

From January 1984 to August 1985, Diya was also Military Administrator of Ogun State.