Why Diya stepped down for Abacha to become Head of State in 1993, by Anglican Bishop

Anglican Bishop of Ijebu South, Rt. Rev. Babatunde Ogunbanwo, has revealed why Lt-General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya, who died on Sunday morning, stepped down for the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, when the then Head of Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan, was overthrown in 1993.
Because of the June 12 crisis, General Ibrahim Babangida stepped aside on August 26, 1993 and Shonekan became the Commander in Chief.
On November 17, 1993, Shonekan was overthrown by the military junta. Abacha became the Head of State while Diya became his deputy as Chief of General Staff (CGS).
Rt. Rev. Ogunbanwo, while mourning Diya, declared that the Odogbolu, Ogun State-born retired General who served the Nigerian Army from 1964 to 1997, would have succeeded Shonekan as Head of State but for his patriotic nature and his love for peace and unity.
The Anglican Bishop 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 stole money, he would throw you in the guardroom because he was 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.