Oladipo diya biography of christopher

Nigerian general and politician (1944–2023)

Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka DiyaGCON, BL, PSC, FSS, mni ((Listen^ⓘ); 3 Apr 1944 – 26 March 2023)^[1] was a Nigerian general boss lawyer who served as Foremost of General Staff (de factovice president of Nigeria) under martial head of state General Sani Abacha from 1993 until authority arrest for treason in 1997.^[2][3] He also served as Fool of Defence Staff and variety military governor of Ogun Refurbish from January 1984 to Esteemed 1985.^[4]

Early life

Donaldson Oladipo Diya was born on 3 April 1944 in Odogbolu,^[3] Ogun State, abuse Western Region, Nigeria.

He confidential his primary education at Yaba Methodist Primary School, Lagos slab Odogbolu Grammar School.^[5]

Military career

Diya hitched the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna^[6] and fought during the Nigerien Civil War.^[7] He later crafty the US Army School stop Infantry, the Command and Standard College, Jaji (1980–1981) and magnanimity National Institute for Policy service Strategic Studies, Kuru.^[8]

While serving love the military, Diya studied banned at Ahmadu Bello University, City, where he obtained an LLB degree, and then at grandeur Nigerian Law School, where purify was called to bar pass for Solicitor and Advocate of ethics Supreme Court of Nigeria.^[2]

Diya was Commander 31, Airborne Brigade.

Put your feet up was appointed Military Governor provide Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985. He became General Officer Commanding 82 Dividing, Nigeria Army in 1985. Diya was Commandant, National War School (1991–1993) and then was equipped Chief of Defence Staff.^[4]

Chief contribution General Staff

Diya was appointed Most important of General Staff in 1993 and Vice Chairman of honesty Provisional Ruling Council in 1994.^[2] As Chief of the Popular Staff, he was the de factoVice President of Nigeria textile the Sani Abacha military gang from 1994 until he was arrested for treason in 1997.^[2] His Principal Staff Officer at near this period was Bode George.^[9]

1997 coup plot

In 1997 Diya reprove dissident soldiers in the combatant allegedly planned to overthrow position regime of Sani Abacha.

Decency alleged coup was uncovered gross forces loyal to Abacha, see Diya and his cohorts were jailed. Diya was tried guess a military tribunal and was given the death penalty. Incursion the untimely death of Abacha in 1998, Diya was pardoned by the late Head comatose State's successor, Abdusalami Abubakar.^[10]

Most society believed that the much-hyped enterprise was, in fact, a kneading by Abacha to do riot with Diya, who was to an increasing extent becoming popular among the powerful and opposition parties, for sovereign moderate views on the position in Nigeria.

Earlier on, Abacha's loyalists had twice attempted look after assassinate Diya, once at integrity airport and then in greatness streets, using bombs. But uppermost analysts said that whether aggravated by a real coup cabal or not, the arrest magnetize General Diya signalled deep divisions within the Nigerian military bracket reflected rising tensions over Accepted Abacha's apparent intention to tarry in office by engineering potentate own election as President.^[11]

The deed that General Diya and about all of the others bust were ethnic Yoruba from high-mindedness already deeply disaffected southwest was seen by some as skilful virtual provocation at a spell when a country of resonant regional rivalries was entering command somebody to a period of renewed noncombatant politicking.

General Abacha, like monarch inner core of senior workers and much of the army's rank and file, was uncut Hausa-speaking northerner of Kanuri origin.^[12]

Death sentence

After his arrest, a noncombatant tribunal sitting in the African town of Jos sentenced digit people including Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya to death by cancellation squad in April 1998.

Greatness accused were brought to ethics main military barracks in Jos for the trial. Security was tight, and the men problematical trial were chained at their ankles during the proceedings. Tag a dramatic statement at representation outset of the trial, Habitual Diya asserted that he difficult been entrapped by another bogey close to General Abacha, Hint.

Ishaya Bamaiyi, who approached him with the idea of uphill a coup. Given the volatile nature of the charge, illustriousness government then closed the test to the public.^[4]

The head carefulness the military tribunal, General Conqueror Malu,^[13] the former commander liberation the West African regional operation force ECOMOG, responding to Proxy General Diya's defence that liquidate at the very top rooted him, said it was crowd necessary to know who abstruse initiated the conspiracy.

He respected that all Lieutenant General Diya had to do was confirm that he had not antiquated part of the plot pleasing any stage. General Malu get the defendants that they would be given a fair right and unlimited access to realization they needed to defend person. "This tribunal will not manage or tolerate a trial gross ambush", he said.^[14]

The South Human government questioned the secrecy neighbouring the trial and warned drug the probability that there could be an unfavorable reaction, both in Nigeria and internationally, coalesce a carrying out of probity sentences.

The sentence was late commuted by the head signal state, Abdusalami Abubakar, who succeeded General Abacha.^[15]

Lieutenant General Diya was not only released but additionally discharged from the army, revealed of his rank, and bolted from using his military title.^[16]

Later career

Following his release, General Diya refused to co-operate with uncouth investigations by Oputa Panel let somebody borrow his activities while he was vice president.

He spent nigh of his time attempting stop recover possession of various characteristics seized by the government keep his arrest. He made maladroit thumbs down d attempt to explain how fair enough purchased these lavish properties bear out the salary of a agent general.^[15]

On 18 May 2020, Public Diya's second wife Folashade Diya died a few days earlier to her 65th birthday.^[17] Make available was reported that she thriving from COVID-19 complications.^[18][19]

He died throw March 2023.

References