Lagos, March 26, 2023 – Bola Tinubu, the President-Elect, has sent his condolence to the family of former Chief of General Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya, who passed on in the early hours of Sunday.
Tinubu expressed his sadness over the passing of the retired general in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
He commended his contributions to national development and the military institution.
Tinubu, who is currently on vacation in London and would be in Saudi Arabia for Umrah (Lesser Hajj), said the news of Diya’s death came to him as a shock.
“I send my heartfelt condolences and sympathy to his immediate family, especially his wives and children.
“Gen. Diya lived a remarkable life of a soldier and he made his mark in the military where he served our country diligently as Military Governor of Ogun and in the various military positions he held.
“He rose to the enviable position of Chief of General Staff and second in command to the Head of State, he served meritoriously,” Tinubu said.
He noted that as much as he could, Diya played a stabilising role during one of the most turbulent periods in the country’s life in the aftermath of June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Tinubu said the deceased would be remembered for his patriotism and service to the nation.
He condoled with Gov. Dapo Abiodun and the people of Ogun, Diya’s home state, and prayed to Almighty Allah to comfort his family and those he left behind and to grant his soul eternal rest.
Oladipo Diya died in the early hours on Sunday at the age of 79.
He was a Military Governor of Ogun State between January 1984 and August 1985.
Diya was Chief of General Staff and second in command to late Military Head of State, late Gen. Sani Abacha in 1993. (GBN)
