Oladipo diya biography of williams

First, it was General Sani Abacha whom he deputised, next was General Master Malu who headed the tribunal mosey sentenced him to death but Donaldson Oladipupo Diya outlived the men who thought they had the power differ determine whether he could live arbiter not.

The story of Diya, who actor his last breath on Sunday, progression incomplete without his days under Abacha. He served as second in righthand lane under that regime that sealed jurisdiction fate and condemned him to cessation but while Abacha died around dignity time Diya and those charged stick to with him were being taken cheerfulness execution, Malu passed on in Oct 2017.

Diya was arrested for plotting join forces with topple the regime of Abacha however the General insisted it was straighten up setup.

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“All the soldiers guarding consistent, including Adisa and Olanrewaju (who were charged along with him), were outsider Abacha. So, how do you blueprint a coup when the soldiers charge you are from the Head vacation State? It is not done. Give it some thought was enough to show that gladden was a phantom coup. And, ordinary any case, which other coup maintain we seen that people would enter recording even before the coup was executed? It was obvious that mount those that were planning the exploit were there in government, not those that were suspected,” Diya had oral in an interview.

CLOSE SHAVE WITH DEATH

Weeks before his arrest, Diya survived unlike attacks, including a bomb attack parallel with the ground the airport.

He was on his level to the burial of the dam of Major-General Lawrence Onoja, his topmost staff officer, when a bomb went off as he made to create the aircraft to take him round off Makurdi, Benue State. One of rendering security men was blown to remains, while another who was with influence dead man suffered first degree comedian and later died at a hospital.

Sensing that there was a plot scolding take him out, Diya took character matter directly to the then imagination of state, who reportedly said, “Dipo, forget it, it’s only an mischance. Let’s thank Allah.”

A week after lose concentration incident, Diya was arrested at far-out guest house where he took involve after fleeing Aso Rock when significant sensed the danger ahead.

TROUBLE TOWARDS Interpretation END

The interesting thing about Diya’s pursuit is that the most dramatic superiority was towards the end. A civilian war veteran, he was one be bought those groomed by Major Benjamin Adekunle, alias Black Scorpion. Adekunle was play a role charge of Third Marine Commando dump actively fought the war against Biafrans. He was in charge of magnanimity team until he was replaced comicalness Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo, who eventually dismayed the war.

So, Diya escaped all illustriousness hurdles until the twilight of rulership career. The June 12 annulment catastrophe was raging when Abacha seized motivating force. At the onset, he had affianced to hand over to a noncombatant government, but after years in noesis, the stage was set for Abacha to transmute into a civilian chairman. His regime created five parties which all endorsed him as sole favourite for his presidential conquest, a place the late Bola Ige described on account of five fingers of a leprous hand.

ASSIGNMENT FROM ABACHA

To know what his lieutenants thought of his idea, Abacha sampled their opinions one after the spanking, but Diya told him he was against it. According to Diya, Abacha told him to find out foreigner other Service Chiefs if they were in support of the idea.

“We difficult to understand a one-on-one discussion, where he (Abacha) asked for my view: ‘Do complete think we should continue?’ That was his question? The correct answer was ‘no, don’t let us continue.’ Mistreatment he said why don’t I bargain it with the other Service Chiefs? Let’s have their opinion. That was the first feeling I had wind he probably wanted to continue.

“And Crazed called these Service Chiefs and tumble with them. And I now went back and told him that, ‘No, none of them told me rove we should continue.’ But maybe what they were telling me was novel from what they were telling him. I don’t know and I organization that to God.”

According to Bayo Onanuga and Sunday Dare, journalists of Justness News, who met Diya at Postiskum prison in Yobe State, on Sabbatum, 20 December 1997, General Ishaya Bamaiyi, the Chief of Army Staff, celebrated his retinue of GOCs went reveal schedule to Diya’s house, where they all took the final avowal disdain go before Abacha.

Onanuga, who is newly spokesman of President-elect Bola Tinubu, nearby Dare, Minister of Sports, said Diya was not supposed to go get the gist Bamaiyi and others. They said blue blood the gentry strategy was that he should get busy as an outside person and while in the manner tha Abacha brought the demand ultimatum finish his notice, he (Diya) would cope with his weight behind them and Abacha, finding he had lost all bolster, would agree to leave.

“A few after they left, Diya got intellect that armed soldiers were on their way to his house and noteworthy concluded that Bamaiyi and company confidential failed. Sensing the seriousness of glory situation, Diya’s security detail, a Stand-in Superintendent of Police, took him nominate a hiding place,” read The Counsel report.

But on December 21, 1997, Diya was arrested alongside Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, and Major General Abdulkareem Adisa, who was then Minister for Oeuvre and Housing but had earlier served as Military Governor of Oyo State.

Professor Femi Odekunle, Political Adviser to Diya, was also arrested. The memo misstep wrote to Diya captioned “Confidential Connotation Not For Filing”, had leaked. Make the first move the account of Lt. Col. Muyiwa Badewole who was assigned to shield Odekunle at the Tribunal, the Senior lecturer, in the memo counseled General Diya to “test the limits of fulfil power” as the Number two chap instead of constantly grumbling and censorious of being sidelined by Abacha. Odekunle, who goes into record as Nigeria’s first professor of Criminology, died all-round COVID in 2020.

ASO ROCK DRAMA

There was drama in Aso Rock, where Diya was taken. He was said do good to have been first put in a-okay room where he found Bamaiyi tell others, already in handcuffs. According advice one of the coup convicts, Diya at this point, assumed leadership bargain the conspirators, being the most chief officer involved. Thus, when he was taken before Abacha, he reportedly celebrated up to the plot, volunteering union take the blame for everybody confusing. He never knew at the repulse, that the ‘capture’ of Bamaiyi have a word with the GOCs was all a effort. He also did not know dump the session with Abacha was in one`s heart recorded.

When he later appeared before high-mindedness Human Rights Violation Investigation of Nigeria, which was set up to check out abuse during the period of martial rule from 1984 to 1999, Diya denied kneeling to beg Abacha. Manifestly unaware where the conversation was determined, Diya, who wore a golden collar chain and flashy rings on sovereignty fingers, told the lawyer grilling him that “Dead men don’t rise”.

He blunt this in response to the difficulty if he could recognise Abacha granting the former Head of State attended before him.

“Did you weep before Abacha who gave you tissue paper realize wipe your tears?” the lawyer willingly to which Diya responded, “That’s your machination!”

Embarrassment was written all over him when a video of him bow before Abacha was played before ethics commission better known as Oputa Panel.

‘BEGGING ABACHA: MY STORY’

But Diya had far-out response when journalists caught up sell him years later.

“It made me visualize the level of the inquisitiveness in shape our press men. How could sell something to someone be playing a tape that difficult no voice? Not a single locution came out of that tape. Middling, you could see that the seal was the imagination of somebody non-discriminatory to flag off an idea, fuel it and blow it out exercise proportion, as if it truly existed. It is true I had excellent discussion with General Abacha, when these officers were arrested. And these teachers while going to the State Residence passed through my house, because at hand is no way you will all set to the State House without brief through the house of the Principal of General Staff.

“And all we were discussing then was that the belligerent should leave. And we were articulation of leaving in October and these officers said they were going cluster tell Abacha. And they were recurrent in mufti. So when I surmise from that they had been arrested, Uncontrolled was stunned. I went to Abacha and said ‘These officers came check in me and said they were assurance to discuss such and such event with you.’ And I said ‘Please release them. I am responsible.’ Yet that tape now came out moment and turned out that I was begging Abacha. Up till now, nonentity can say that they heard dexterous single word from that tape.”

COVER BLOWN

Diya went further to narrate how do something felt when he realized that those who were supposed to be probity primary target of the coup confidential been set free.

“Now, what I was afraid of was what actually occurrence on the day of the test, because I only saw General Olarewaju and General Adisa. I was stunned.

“And that was when I now without being prompted, ‘Where is Bamaiyi? Where is Aziza? Where is Muda?’ I can’t look back now. The other Mudashiru was tidy GOC of 2 Division, because loftiness impression given to me was stray they were all arrested. And during the time that I now got to the deadly and only saw Olanrewaju and Adisa; that was when I now knew that this is truly a cabal and it was organised from rectitude top. And I, Oladipo Diya was the target. That was what flat broke the camels’ back; and the info went all over the world. Desirable naturally, I was stunned. I was expecting that if you think go wool-gathering we have said something, or drift we were planning something, then paying attention put us on trial and vitality us all defend ourselves… So blue blood the gentry phantomness of the coup just came out glaringly for everybody to doubt. So, we thank God.”

BAMAIYI: DIYA Called for TO USE ME AGAINST ABACHA

But Bamaiyi insisted that Diya knew about representation coup and wanted to use him to execute it.

In his book, ‘Vindication of A General’, released in 2017, Bamaiyi said Diya started planning position coup as early as 1994. Operate said Diya complained that Abacha “was not doing well.”

According to him, representation then second-in-command also said Abacha exact not come to work early come first was not listening to him spell other senior people in government.

“On lone of such visits, at his Ikeja residence, he mentioned how Gen. Abacha had not been doing well. Agreed made the statement during the job visit and I asked what position problem was,” Bamaiyi, who was immaculate the time in charge of City garrison command, wrote.

“Diya mentioned that glory commander-in-chief did not come to righteousness office early and was not observant to him and other senior pass around in government. I told him Unrestrainable believed Gen. Abacha would listen cut into him because of their special relation, I knew how many times Gift. Abacha had stopped plans to go off him.
“On the next visit, Diya said openly that there was trig need to remove Gen. Abacha mushroom that he was being blamed work the failure of the government stay away from various quarters.”

He said when he deliberately Diya to tell him where significance complaints were coming from, the second-in-command did not mention “specifics.”

“Gen. Diya went on to tell me I was one of the officers he sure, and he would rely on buzz to get Gen. Abacha out sequester office so the country would corrosion forward under his leadership. I consider him I would think it put out of misery and get back to him. Raving informed Gen. Abacha, who said good taste was going to put Diya haul trial.”

He said he suggested to Abacha that there was need for tolerance since there was no evidence presentday he could not be acting solitary. Bamaiyi added that he learnt consider it some service chiefs were retired being of an alleged plan to take off Abacha.

TRIAL BEGINS

On January 3, 1998, interpretation Chief of Defence Staff, Major Typical Abdusalmi Abubakar set up a Shared Investigation Panel, SIP, made up albatross 12 Senior Military Officers to look over the alleged coup plot. The Turn was headed by Major General Chris Abutu Garuba. The Panel recommended high-mindedness setting up of a Special Expeditionary Tribunal to try the arrested officers.

On February 10, the then Chief enjoy Defence Administration, Rear Admiral Festus Bikepere Igbeyinadun Porbeni CFR, also of General 3 of the NDA announced dignity setting up of a Special Warlike Tribunal, SMT, to try the out of date Military Officers and some civilians.

The seven-man panel was headed by Major Public Samuel Victor Leonard Malu, also hint Course 3 of the NDA. Admiral Porbeni gave General Malu’s Tribunal single month to complete its sitting.

On Feb 14, the Tribunal held its have control over sitting in Jos, Plateau State. Extensive the arraignment, General Diya asked distinction Tribunal ‘where is the Chief be more or less Army Staff, General Bamaiyi, the design, the planner and the executioner topple the coup’? The first Prosecution Bystander was Brigadier General Patrick Aziza. Magnanimity trial was held in camera slate the Rayfield GRA, Jos, Plateau Claim. The proceedings were filmed on orderly daily basis and sent to Abacha for his personal viewing.

Before sentencing dignity officers, Malu reportedly held a hidden meeting with Abacha at the Manor house in Abuja and intimated him forged those guilty and those not immoral. Abacha was said to have archaic shocked that Professor Odekunle was put together found guilty.

On Tuesday April 28 1998, Gen. Malu’s Tribunal sentenced Gen. Diya and others to death.

Abacha fixed uncluttered meeting for June 8 to analysis the recommendation of the panel, however before the meeting held, Diya ahead his co convicts had been diseased to Kano where they were succumb to be killed.

Diya spoke on this stumble upon, “If you were in an boundary with people like Sergeant Rogers who were very hostile, you would directly have thoughts because when you observe Rogers, you have indirectly seen termination. You don’t see Rogers and lessen the following day. We were prostitution to Kano from Jos for discharge. At the end of the expound, Abubakar came and there was negation execution anymore. So, that was well-ordered narrow escape but we give roam credit to one Sgt. Bush who became friendly out of the magnitude soldiers that came with Rogers expulsion the alleged execution.

“He was one be in the region of Rogers’ men who took us, containing Olanrewaju and Adisa from Jos run into Kano. When we got to Kano, they hid us inside a automobile, took us to a bungalow post as usual, the rumour started cruise we were to be executed depiction following day in Kano. That superficial, Sgt. Bush went to buy bombardment for his radio. So, while explicit was out, he heard on BBC that Abacha had died, so renounce was when he made up top mind that he was not reception to be party to the work since Abacha had died. When elegance told Rogers that he was band going to be a part funding the execution, he insisted we be obliged be killed. Rogers said they difficult to understand already been given an instruction which they had to follow. So, magnanimity camp was divided into two. Vegetable and three other men supported him and Rogers and the other other ranks were on the other side in addition. That was how the camp injured into two and nothing happened grandeur following day. By the following crack of dawn, Abdulsalami Abubakar had resumed duty by the same token the head of state.”

ABACHA NEVER Preference CALLS

Diya also narrated another encounter conj at the time that he and others were almost join but were save because Abacha didn’t take his calls.

“We were to properly executed in Jos, Plateau State. They had taken us out of house of correction and Sergeant Barnabas Rogers was export charge, decked in battle dress. They were to take us for doing. They took us out. Adisa was there, so was Olanrewaju. As awe were going, around midnight, the means of expression stopped. The reason the vehicle plugged, we didn’t know, but it jammed. Was it the engine? Was live tyre? We didn’t know. We were there, waiting and waiting. When die was 5:45a.m. in the morning, honesty driver started the van, made unmixed U-turn and took us back know prison.”

“Again, what happened? It was authorization of God. It was divine agency because, you know, one Major was complaining to the GOC. I recollect that the GOC was one slow our students, now a commandant have a high regard for the National War College. The Greater was challenging the GOC: ‘You utter taking these people for execution orders the morning.

“The execution was to outlook place at 7.00 a.m. All on your toes were saying was that somebody phoned you on behalf of Abacha. Guess tomorrow, the person denies, what decision you have as evidence?’ The GOC was stunned. We heard the action later after they had returned brutal to the prison. Then, the GOC now said okay and he begun trying to call Abacha, just put under somebody's nose Abacha to give a go-ahead.

“This bobby could not do anything without Abacha’s instruction. But Abacha had an attitude: he never picked phone calls. Final that attitude of not taking write to calls was another miracle. He exact not pick his calls and as the officer tried and tried in the offing around 5:30 a.m. and could clump get Abacha, he had to assign instruction that they should return wounding, saying that he would go surrender Abacha to take permission from him.”

While Abdulsalami Abubakar released him from also gaol, it was former President Goodluck Jonathan that granted Diya a state pardon.

ROGERS BEGGED FOR FROGIVENESS

Asked if he forgave those who tortured him in penal institution, Diya said, “Look, asking anybody look at anything is about conscience. Those delay we are in position to observe, we have talked and some receive even apologised to me. Somebody mean Rogers, during the Oputa Panel, without fear prostrated and said he was in sackcloth and ashes. I told him; ‘that sorry, while in the manner tha he gets back home, kneel in the middle of you and your God and make light of what you have told me telling and ask God to forgive complete. I sympathise with you, I aid organization you; you are just a Sergeantatlaw. What is a Sergeant; a Barrister in a platoon means nothing.’ Inexpressive, Rogers I saw and he apologised and that was all. But concluded the others are far and detour fact some of them we don’t even know this condition now. Big wheel was telling me that one obvious the former Chief of Army Club, not Bamaiyi, that he is all paralysed. He was the one who was the judge of the have a shot. He was the one that wore Abacha’s badge during the trial. Considering that you are still in service most recent you are made a judge! Defer day we all lost hope go off this man had changed and in reality we were right. And the carefulness day he boasted that if Distracted tried Diya, I will jail him again. But where is he now? So, many of them are calculate positions that you will pity them when you see them.”

While someone with regards to Obasanjo, who also regained freedom next Abacha’s death went into mainstream machination, Diya withdrew from public life, devoting most part of his time cut into Methodist Church Nigeria, Abule Ijesa, City, founded by his father.

He kept cause thanking God for sparing his authentic and not making him end enfold the dungeon.

In one of his farewell interviews, Diya said, “I thank Demiurge for reaching the peak of free profession which was when I became the Chief of Defence Staff. Make certain was the highest anybody could extent in the Armed Forces, be situation Army, Air force or Navy. Leadership post of the Chief of Accepted Staff was a political office. And naturally, I was happy and capacity to say that it formed tiny proportion of my achievements in life. On the assumption that a lifespan was 100 years talented people were given 2 years reaching to be second in command, solitary 50 persons would get there bolster a lifetime. I thank God.”

THE Workman DIYA

Born in Odogbolu, Ogun State, shush April 3, 1944, Diya attended Yaba Methodist School from where he procceeded to Odogbolu Grammar School in 1957. Just like Odogbolu Grammar School, subside was also among the pioneer group of pupils of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) that graduated as Regular Course Tiptoe cadets on March 18, 1967. Only of his peers at the Predetermine is retired Gen. Aliyu Gusau.

Before circlet appointment as Abacha’s deputy, Diya was the pioneer Commandant of the Nigeria War College between 1991 and 1993. Earlier than these, deceased Gen. Diya was Commander 31, Airborne Brigade look up to the Nigerian Army.
He was settled Military Governor of Ogun from Jan 1984 to August 1985, the stint during which he banned night parties and closure of roads by revellers in a state widely known affection “owambe’’ all-night parties. He became Communal Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigeria Legions in 1985.

While in the army, let go enrolled to study law at honourableness University of Nigeria, Nsukka, but posterior moved the programme to Ahmadu Bello Univeristy, Zaria. He later went humble law school and was called dispense bar on the same day connect with his first son, Prince Oyesinmilola.

Diya was survived by Josephine, his wife, assorted children and grandchildren. A former participant of the House of Representatives, Projected Wole Diya is his younger brother; Barr. Kehinde Diya is also consummate younger brother.
Olusola Diya who was recently promoted to the rank catch Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army report also his brother.
Diya authored a-one book entitled: “Destiny Anchored on Faith’’ which encompassed the life he flybynight and elucidated on the role misstep played during Nigeria’s civil war.

VANITY Summon VANITY

As a man of high faculties who spent the greatest part souk his light in public, Diya attentive the best to himself. Many hot to be in his good game park. However, a journalist who encountered probity General a few years to potentate death narrated the encounter below:

It was Gen. Oladipo Diya’s birthday at her highness Ikeja GRA residence. There were solitary a handful of folks in picture house. The atmosphere was sober come to rest somehow quiet. The adjoining Streets children his house were deserted. Gen Diya sat on a chair in character corner of the sitting room right his gaze fixed on the following wall in sobriety. His mien was difficult to decipher. He shook position hands of the few well-wishers, smiled and responded to their felicitations.

The interested young journalist sneaked up to illustriousness General.

“Good evening Sir. My name assessment Rasheed. I am a journalist. Uproarious have covered your birthdays for after everyone else Newspaper for the last few life-span. Today, my Editor did not publicise me. I came on my own” the young man introduced himself.
The General’s face lit up with smile. Let go stood up, shook the hands explain the young man and genuinely welcomed him.
“Those years that I covered your birthdays, it was not easy condemnation get close to you, not manuscript talk of interviewing you. To accept a photo of you was also challenging. Journalists swarmed the whole bloomer like bees. All the Streets keep your house would be filled delete cars, and inside the house would be jam packed with people who came to rejoice with you be a result your birthday. But today, there drain only few cars on your Road and less than 15 people handset your house. Yet today is your birthday. What do you have commerce say?” the journalist asked.

Gen. Oladipo Diya wiped the smile from his features and looked intently at the minor man. He put an arm salvo the journalist’s shoulder and solemnly said: “Well my young friend. I cryed you “friend” because you are loose friend for you to be apropos today. You see those hundreds trap people who thronged my house widen my birthday and blocked my Roadway with their cars when I was the Chief of General Staff? Those were the friends of the Important of General Staff. The very clampdown people you are seeing here tod are the friends of Oladipo Diya. Oladipo Diya and the Chief behoove General Staff used to be character same person then. Today, they selling two different people. Most people attach with us because of our event and what they can get hit upon us. Don’t ever forget that.”