The Federal Government (FG) has expressed shock over the death of former Chief of General Staff (CGS), Lt. General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (rtd).
Diya, who served as CGS to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, died on Sunday morning.
He would have turned 79 on April 3.
Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), conveyed the Federal Executive Council (FEC) condolences in a statement issued by Mr Willie Bassey, Director of Information, office of the SGF on Sunday in Abuja.
According to Mustapha, the Federal Executive Council received with shock the death of Diya.
Mustapha said Diya was a seasoned military officer with admirable administrative capabilities in the various functions he served the country.
He also described late Diya as a notable statesman who made invaluable contributions to nation-building.
“FEC condoles with the government and people of Ogun State, his family and friends, and prays to God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest,” Mustapha said.
Diya was born on April 3, 1944 in Odogbolu, Ogun State.
He was the military governor of Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985.
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, in a statement in Abeokuta by his spokesperson, Kunle Somorin, described Diya as a seasoned administrator, gentleman and officer whose contributions to the development of the security architecture of Nigeria would remain indelible.
The governor added that Ogun State would not forget Diya’s role in its history.
He recalled that the deceased who was a former number “Two Citizen” in the country, was also a military governor in the state.
“He was courageous and daring, quick-witted and patriotic.
“Diya played frontline roles in the evolution and development of the state and Nigeria as a whole,” the governor said.
Abiodun called on the family members, friends and associates of the departed leader to take solace in the fact that he played the parts assigned to him by providence diligently, conscientiously and patriotically meritoriously.
The governor prayed to God to grant his soul eternal rest, while enjoining Nigerians to emulate the good virtues that he left behind.
Former Communications Minister, General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd), described the passing away of Diya as a national loss of a patriot, statesman, courageous officer and a fine gentleman.
Olanrenwaju, who was jailed together with Diya by their estranged boss, in a phantom coup but escaped death after the death of Abacha in 1998, extolled the virtues of Diya as a principled military officer with high intellectual disposition.
“His legal knowledge coupled with vast military experience, made him to excel on many fronts as a no-nonsense field officer or office administrator,” said Olarenwaju.
He further expressed heartfelt condolences to the nuclear and extended families, colleagues and friends of the fallen hero.
Diya would be remembered nationally as an iconic personality in the history of nation building in Nigeria, even though he was an officer.
Former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr. Orji Kalu, has commiserated with the government and people of Ogun State over the demise of Diya.
Kalu, while stressing that the deceased was a compassionate and selfless statesman, urged the Diya family to uphold the remarkable legacies of their late patriarch.
The former Governor acknowledged the contributions of the late military officer to nation building in various capacities, adding that the deceased lived a purposeful life.
In a condolence message, Kalu prayed to God to give the Diya family the fortitude to bear the loss.
He said: “I mourn the passing of the former Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya.
“The deceased played noble roles in the social, economic and political development of the country in different positions.
“He was highly detrabilised, compassionate and committed to the growth and progress of Nigeria”.
Kalu prayed to God to grant the late military officer eternal rest.
Popular Lagos politician, Senator Anthony Adefuye, on Sunday, said Diya would be fondly remembered for the role he played during the June 12 struggle, where he stood by the people and their mandate.
The annulment of the presidential election held on June 12, 1993 and won by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, sparked a chain of events that began with civil uprising in Lagos and across Nigeria.
Adefuye said this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased at his residence at 31, Adekunle Fajuyi Street, Ikeja, Lagos.
The senator said that the late General stood for honesty and he was a fan of the media.
“When he was Vice President, he was on the side of the people. Even during the June 12 crisis, he stood with us and that is why we have a good bond.
“He performed more than an ordinary person for this country and we all mourn him as he died at the age of 79,” Adefuye said.
Rt. Rev. Babatunde Ogunbanwo, Anglican Bishop of Ijebu South, said that Diya was highly disciplined and stood for the unity of the nation.
“In 1993, he had every opportunity to become the Head of State, instead he stepped down for General Abacha just for the sake of peace and unity.
“When he was governor of Ogun State, if you steal money, he will throw you in the guardroom because he is a committed Nigerian.
“We as Yoruba people, as Odogbolu people, and as Ijebu people, we are proud of him. He lived a simple life of impact and integrity and we thank God for a life well spent,” Ogunbanwo said.
Also, Mr Oyewole Diya, a younger brother to the deceased and a former member, House of Representatives, said that the Diya family lost a unifiying factor.
“We lost our dad 40 years ago and my late brother took it upon himself to send everybody in the family to school.
“He practically made everybody in the family and gave us all an opportunity to be successful in life without reservation.
“I am what I am today by the grace of God and with the help of my brother,” he said.
Oyewole Diya represented Shomolu Constituency in the House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007 and was also in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011 and 2015 to 2019.
