10
- The first time he came into the public glare, he was announced the Governor of Ogun State. The time was January 1984 following a military coup that sacked civilian administration headed by President Shehu Shagari.
- He would have been 79 years old on Monday April 3. He was born same day in 1944.
- The second time he would play prominent national role was as one of the coupists who sacked the Interim National Government put in place by General Badamasi Babangida. The ING was headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan.
- Diya, a Yoruba from Odogbolu, Ogun State, the home state of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections, won the
confidence of the pro-June 12 activists when he conveyed the message that the coupists, led by General Sanni Abacha planned to hand over power to Abiola to actualise the mandate. As a first step,he convinced them to participate in a government of national unity.
- It became clear that Diya either sold a dummy or was himself used by Abacha to lure the June -12 leaders into a trap. When the promise of handover failed, Abiola declared himself president. It was the beginning of the end.
- By 1997, Diya found himself in the hole. He was accused of plotting to overthrow General Abacha, was tried by the military and detained.
- The unexpected death of General Abacha and the assumption of power by General Abdulsalam Abubakar led to his release.
- Since his release, Diya has kept a low profile restricting himself to church and community affairs.
- For an officer, who, the Chief of General Staff under Head of State Abacha, was the defacto Number 2, Diya’s history is a lesson on the rise and fall of the people in power, the impact of intrigues and, some say, the Law of Karma.
- He was born and died a Christian, named Donaldson.
Donaldson Oladipo Diya is a Nigerian general who served as Chief of the General Staff, under military head of state General Sani Abacha from 1994 until his arrest for treason in 1997. He previously served as Chief of Defence Staff and was Military Governor of Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985. Wikipedia
Born: 3 April 1944 (age 78 years), Odogbolu
Previous offices: Chief of the Defence Staff of Nigeria (1993–1997), more
Battles/wars: Nigerian Civil War
Branch/service: Nigerian Army
Head of State: Sani Abacha as Military Head of State
Rank: Lieutenant general
Spouse: Deborah Folashade Diya (d. 2020)
