Lt-. Gen. Oladipo Diya (retd), a former Chief of General Staff to the late ex-military dictator, General Sani Abacha, breathed his last on Sunday. DIRISU YAKUBU writes about the life and times of the refined Nigerian

Lieutenant-General Oladipo Diya (retd) was a military tactician respected by many Nigerians in and out of power. Until December 1997 when his power crumbled like a pack of cards over a trumped-up coup. Diya was seen as a star officer of the finest military tradition.

It’s believed that he never recovered from the public trial over the alleged coup plot and his demise in the early hours of Sunday drew reactions from Nigerians at home and abroad old enough to witness the tyranny of his then principal, General Sani Abacha, who ruled from 1993 until he passed away in 1998.

Diya, born on April 3, 1944, died barely eight days to his 79th birthday. Described by many as a no-nonsense military officer, Diya was an alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Command and Staff College, Jaji, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru and the United States Army School of Infantry. Having fought in the Nigeria/Biafra civil war on the side of the Federal Government, Diya had a great career in the military, culminating in his appointment as military governor of his native Ogun State in 1984.

In seasons of promotions driven purely on competence, the infantry officer was appointed General Officer Commanding of the 82 Division, Enugu, from 1991 to 1993 until his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff and later, Chief of General Staff by the then despot, Abacha. Diya became Vice Chairman of the then highly influential Provisional Ruling Council in 1996, a position he held until he was linked with a phantom coup which led to his arrest and subsequent trial for treason in 1997.

It was learnt that another ally of the late despot of an alleged coup by Diya alongside other military officers largely of South-West extraction to overthrow him.

For a man drunk on autocracy, Abacha wasted no time in constituting a military tribunal chaired by Major General Victor Malu to put Diya, former Minister of Works and Housing, General Abdulkarim Adisa, ex-Communications Minister, Gen Tajudeen Olarenwaju, Chief Security Officer to Diya, Major Seun Fadipe among others on trial.

As it turned out, the Malu-led tribunal found Diya and others guilty and they were sentenced to death by firing squad. But in a miraculous twist of fate Abacha died in controversial circumstances in 1998 before the date slated for the execution of Diya and his alleged fellow coup plotters.

Abacha successor, Major General Abdulsalami Abubakar, later released Diya nd others to the joy of his family members, associates in the military and legal profession for the former number two man acquired a law degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, attended the Nigerian Law School and called to bar as solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Diya reportedly told told the military tribunal that Lt Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi started the conversation on the need get rid of the Abacha regime, stressing that his comment was neither in support nor an indication of his acceptance that the dark-goggled general ought to give way at the Aso Rock Villa; a claim purportedly dismissed by Bamaiyi who accused Diya of being the initiator, coordinator and executor of the coup.

Appearing before the Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Commission on Human Rights violations, Bamaiyi noted, “contrary to the allegations that the 1997 December coup was a mere set-up in order to humiliate Lt Gen Oladipo Diya and others who are referred to by General Diya in his petition as my ethnic grouping in the army, the coup was in fact initiated by Diya who independently and personally co-opted officers from his ethnic group for its execution.”

Years later at the launch of his memoir, “Vindication of a General,” Bamaiyi reiterated his earlier stand on Diya as a man who had intent to succeed Abacha via a coup.

Bamaiyi claimed that Diya often complained that Abacha “was not doing well.”

“On one such visits, at his Ikeja residence, he (Diya) mentioned how Gen. Abacha had not been doing well. He made the statement during the next visit, and I asked what the problem was,” Bamaiyi, who was then in charge of Lagos garrison command, wrote in the book

As controversy over the alleged coup remains in the belly of history, Diya allegedly pleaded with Abacha to spare his life but Gen Adisa wore a smile throughout the trial, aware that death either by natural cause or execution by a firing squad was a necessary end.

The death of the Ogun-born infantry officer has attracted tributes from many Nigerians for refusing to venture into partisan politics after the mercy of God rescued him from the den of Abacha. Until his death, he reportedly stuck to the law profession, his professional calling after a year of “meritorious” service in the military.

Speaking with our correspondent on the late Diya, Prof. of Mass Communication and expert on civil-military relations, Cosmos Eze, commended the late Diya for his discipline, saying, “He was one of the last Titans, a disciplined officer indeed. However, this was truncated by allegations of treason levelled against him by Gen. Sani Abacha. Having survived the allegations and the maltreatment he received, he resorted to life of near seclusion. He refrained from appearing on many national events and apparently, he seemed not to be happy at the turn of events and national issues until he gave up. He remains one of the most respected military leaders from Western Nigeria and indeed Nigeria as a whole.”

In his reaction to Diya’s death, Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, noted that late Diya used the most productive part of his life to serve his fatherland with uncommon commitment and made a success of the command positions and political offices he held in his lifetime.

Also, a former Senate President, David Mark, described Diya as one of the shining lights of the Nigerian Army.

Mark added that history would be kind to Diya for his immense contributions to the peace, unity, and development of Nigeria.

In his comment, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the late deceased, Olawale Adekoya, stated that the family was delighted that Diya left a legacy worth emulating.

He said, “How do you take the death of a colossus? How do you take the demise of a man who was an institution onto himself? A father, gentleman, handsome, charming, easygoing, tough, principled, but I can tell you that in that hard-looking military general was a heart of gold.’’

Saying that the family was indeed mourning the departed, he said that they were consoled that he left a legacy he etched in the sands of time, knowing full well that generations to come would emulate him.

Speaking about his last moments, Adekoya said, “The night he died, he slept like any other old person. Just past midnight, his wife and other family members discovered that he was breathing in a particular way and so he was rushed to a nearby hospital which he had been visiting. He was confirmed dead at exactly 1.05am.”

On burial arrangements, Adekoya said the family was deliberating and would communicate with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), before notifying the public.

“The children are meeting. Dates and plans will come. Being a former second citizen and former Chief of General Staff, the family alone will not fix a date. We must communicate with the Aso Villa and Mr President. So, once that is done, the world will know about the arrangements.’’

Eminent Nigerians have been visiting the Lagos residence of the illustrious Nigerian to commiserate with his family.

Those who had signed the condolence register at the deceased’s home included Bishop of Ijebu Diocese and Archbishop of South-West of the First African Church Mission, Paul Onanuga.

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