Diya: Lingering memories of the people’s General

Last Sunday, Nigerians were thrown into mourning as they woke up to the sad news of the sudden death of one time Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Donaldson Oladipo Diya. On that ill fated day, tears flowed freely from Diya’s immediate family members, and close associates who demonstrated the nothingness of his exit by allowing the better of themselves be overtaken by sheer emotions.

Though to the now late General’s family, their father and breadwinner is gone. To his friends and close associates, a dear kind-hearted pal is gone. But to Nigerians and the international community, a one time second most powerful man in Africa’s most powerful nation is gone. The sentiments notwithstanding, reminiscences of Diya’s exploits in the Nigerian Army remain ever green in human history.

A civil war veteran who rose through the ranks of soldiering to the towering height of a Lieutenant General, an enviable military rank that earned him, the Chief of Staff.

Diya succeeded the late Admiral Augustus Aikhomu as Nigeria’s second most powerful man. But he was booted out of office over a reported coup d’etat which he allegedly spearheaded.

COUP PLOT: In 1997, Diya and some dissident soldiers in the military, allegedly planned to overthrow the Sanni Abacha-led regime.

The alleged coup plot was uncovered by forces loyal to Abacha.

Later, Diya and his cohorts were tried by a military tribunal and sentenced to death.

However, most people across Nigeria and world at large, believed that the much touted coup was a phantom one orchestrated by Abacha to do away with Diya because of his seeming radical views on issues of national concern. The Abacha loyalists had failed twice to assassinate Diya. The first attempt against Diya was at the Airport, and the other, on the street, using bombs. Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi said that everybody mentioned in the alleged coup had been Abacha’s henchmen, adding’ the situation is not clear to us. We want the whole truth.”

Death Sentence
General Diya asserted that he was entrapped by another officer close to Abacha, General Musa Bamaiyi who approached him with the idea. Given the explosive nature of the charge, the government then closed the trial to the public. The head of the military tribunal, General Victor Malu, former Commander of the West Africa Regional Peacekeeping Force, ECOMOG, responding to Diya, said it was not necessary to know who had initiated the conspiracy, adding that all he had to do was to prove that he was not part of the plot at anytime.

At the trial dock at the military tribunal headed by veteran ECOMOG commander, Diya wept, insisting that he was trapped in the phantom coup. Not even the assurance from General Malu that efforts would be made to treat their case on merit could stop the tears flowing from Diya’s red eyes

The former Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al Mustapha made a mockery of General Diya while he was testifying to one of the many cases against him at the famous Oputa panel which held at the Igbosere High Court at the TBS in Lagos. “I have never seen a weak Army General like Diya.

When I cornered him for questioning, he was weeping like a baby,” Al Mustapha said.
Diya who escaped being killed by whiskers over his role in the coup following threats by the South African government and late human rights activist, Gani Fawehime who raised the alarm that it was a phantom coup d’etat, targeted at removing Diya whose soaring popularity on issues of national discourse had earned him a place in the heart of Nigerians, as well as gradually becoming a threat to the junta government of the late General Abacha who wanted to transmute into a civilian President.

Diya was however thrown into jail, but by sheer providence, his principal, General Abacha died in a mysterious circumstance. His successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar granted him pardon, and was retired from the military and stripped of his rank. He became an hermit upon retirement, living a solitary life of sorts. Diya reportedly shun the Oputa panel and went about fighting to recover his seized properties.

The Man Diya
Born in April 1944 in Odogbolu, Ogun State, South West Nigeria, Diya began his education at the Methodist Primary school in Lagos. He later proceeded to the Odogbolu Grammar school. Diya was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA Kaduna and fought during the Nigerian civil war. He attended the US Army school of the military, the Command and Staff College, Jaji, Plateau State, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru near Jos. He later proceeded to study Law at the Ahmedu Bello University, Zaria. As a proud recipient of the LLB Hons degree, Diya proceeded to the Nigerian Law School where he was subsequently called to the Bar as Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

With his intimidating credentials, Diya was appointed Chief of General Staff in 1993, and Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council in 1994.

As Chief of General Staff, he was the de facto Vice President of Nigeria in the Sani Abacha’s junta from 1994 until he was arrested for treason in 1997. His principal officer during this period was Bode George.

General Diya would indeed be remembered in Nigeria’s chequered journey to an enduring democracy. Adieu! The People’s General.