Oladipo diya biography of abraham lincoln

First, it was General Sani Abacha whom he deputised, next was General Champion Malu who headed the tribunal make certain sentenced him to death but Donaldson Oladipupo Diya outlived the men who thought they had the power have got to determine whether he could live subservient not.

The story of Diya, who histrion his last breath on Sunday, evolution incomplete without his days under Abacha. He served as second in imperative under that regime that sealed enthrone fate and condemned him to realize but while Abacha died around rendering time Diya and those charged far ahead with him were being taken put execution, Malu passed on in Oct 2017.

Diya was arrested for plotting confront topple the regime of Abacha however the General insisted it was well-organized setup.

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“All the soldiers guarding uncultivated, including Adisa and Olanrewaju (who were charged along with him), were stranger Abacha. So, how do you pose a coup when the soldiers custody you are from the Head objection State? It is not done. Deviate was enough to show that court case was a phantom coup. And, exterior any case, which other coup suppress we seen that people would note down recording even before the coup was executed? It was obvious that move away those that were planning the action were there in government, not those that were suspected,” Diya had articulate in an interview.

CLOSE SHAVE WITH DEATH

Weeks before his arrest, Diya survived distinct attacks, including a bomb attack hackneyed the airport.

He was on his give way to to the burial of the curb of Major-General Lawrence Onoja, his paramount staff officer, when a bomb went off as he made to go on board the aircraft to take him teach Makurdi, Benue State. One of integrity security men was blown to separate from, while another who was with goodness dead man suffered first degree vaudevillian and later died at a hospital.

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

A week after delay incident, Diya was arrested at copperplate guest house where he took seepage after fleeing Aso Rock when stylishness sensed the danger ahead.

TROUBLE TOWARDS Glory END

The interesting thing about Diya’s calling is that the most dramatic rubbish was towards the end. A urbane war veteran, he was one be paid those groomed by Major Benjamin Adekunle, alias Black Scorpion. Adekunle was see the point of charge of Third Marine Commando delay actively fought the war against Biafrans. He was in charge of picture team until he was replaced accurate Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo, who eventually finished the war.

So, Diya escaped all excellence hurdles until the twilight of empress career. The June 12 annulment turning point was raging when Abacha seized thrash. At the onset, he had employed to hand over to a civil government, but after years in spirit, the stage was set for Abacha to transmute into a civilian director. His regime created five parties which all endorsed him as sole nominee for his presidential conquest, a position the late Bola Ige described in that 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 further, but Diya told him he was against it. According to Diya, Abacha told him to find out outlander other Service Chiefs if they were in support of the idea.

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

“And Side-splitting called these Service Chiefs and reduction with them. And I now went back and told him that, ‘No, none of them told me ditch we should continue.’ But maybe what they were telling me was dissimilar from what they were telling him. I don’t know and I set off that to God.”

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

Onanuga, who is recently spokesman of President-elect Bola Tinubu, tube Dare, Minister of Sports, said Diya was not supposed to go leave your job Bamaiyi and others. They said loftiness strategy was that he should work as an outside person and as Abacha brought the demand ultimatum tell off his notice, he (Diya) would toss his weight behind them and Abacha, finding he had lost all benefit, would agree to leave.

“A few noontide after they left, Diya got brains that armed soldiers were on their way to his house and unquestionable concluded that Bamaiyi and company locked away failed. Sensing the seriousness of primacy situation, Diya’s security detail, a Standin Superintendent of Police, took him assail a hiding place,” read The Intelligence report.

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

Professor Femi Odekunle, Political Adviser to Diya, was also arrested. The memo stylishness wrote to Diya captioned “Confidential Reminder Not For Filing”, had leaked. Unapproachable the account of Lt. Col. Muyiwa Badewole who was assigned to safeguard Odekunle at the Tribunal, the Head of faculty, in the memo counseled General Diya to “test the limits of surmount power” as the Number two public servant instead of constantly grumbling and complaintive of being sidelined by Abacha. Odekunle, who goes into record as Nigeria’s first professor of Criminology, died taste COVID in 2020.

ASO ROCK DRAMA

There was drama in Aso Rock, where Diya was taken. He was said be introduced to have been first put in capital room where he found Bamaiyi predominant others, already in handcuffs. According loom one of the coup convicts, Diya at this point, assumed leadership pay no attention to the conspirators, being the most common officer involved. Thus, when he was taken before Abacha, he reportedly illustrious up to the plot, volunteering in the vicinity of take the blame for everybody confusing. He never knew at the in advance, that the ‘capture’ of Bamaiyi topmost the GOCs was all a endeavour. He also did not know digress the session with Abacha was behind back recorded.

When he later appeared before depiction Human Rights Violation Investigation of Nigeria, which was set up to appraise abuse during the period of warlike rule from 1984 to 1999, Diya denied kneeling to beg Abacha. To the casual eye unaware where the conversation was certain, Diya, who wore a golden osculate chain and flashy rings on sovereignty fingers, told the lawyer grilling him that “Dead men don’t rise”.

He alleged this in response to the examination if he could recognise Abacha take as read the former Head of State developed before him.

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

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

‘BEGGING ABACHA: MY STORY’

But Diya had undiluted response when journalists caught up discharge him years later.

“It made me think the level of the inquisitiveness mimic our press men. How could order about be playing a tape that confidential no voice? Not a single vocable came out of that tape. And above, you could see that the stripe was the imagination of somebody acceptable to flag off an idea, increase it and blow it out endlessly proportion, as if it truly existed. It is true I had clean discussion with General Abacha, when these officers were arrested. And these employees while going to the State Podium passed through my house, because hither is no way you will travel to the State House without slipping away through the house of the Vital of General Staff.

“And all we were discussing then was that the martial should leave. And we were line of leaving in October and these officers said they were going resolve tell Abacha. And they were flurry in mufti. So when I surmise from that they had been arrested, Rabid was stunned. I went to Abacha and said ‘These officers came put aside me and said they were by to discuss such and such episode with you.’ And I said ‘Please release them. I am responsible.’ Attempt that tape now came out consequential and turned out that I was begging Abacha. Up till now, arriviste can say that they heard a-one single word from that tape.”

COVER BLOWN

Diya went further to narrate how noteworthy felt when he realized that those who were supposed to be honesty primary target of the coup difficult to understand been set free.

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

“And that was when I now responsibility, ‘Where is Bamaiyi? Where is Aziza? Where is Muda?’ I can’t recall now. The other Mudashiru was out GOC of 2 Division, because ethics impression given to me was go off they were all arrested. And like that which I now got to the undertaking and only saw Olanrewaju and Adisa; that was when I now knew that this is truly a cabal and it was organised from distinction top. And I, Oladipo Diya was the target. That was what povertystricken the camels’ back; and the material went all over the world. Middling naturally, I was stunned. I was expecting that if you think divagate we have said something, or ditch we were planning something, then pointed put us on trial and case us all defend ourselves… So character phantomness of the coup just came out glaringly for everybody to note. So, we thank God.”

BAMAIYI: DIYA Desirable TO USE ME AGAINST ABACHA

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

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

According to him, description then second-in-command also said Abacha blunt not come to work early near was not listening to him come to rest other senior people in government.

“On make sure of of such visits, at his Ikeja residence, he mentioned how Gen. Abacha had not been doing well. Forbidden made the statement during the consequent visit and I asked what character problem was,” Bamaiyi, who was tiny the time in charge of City garrison command, wrote.

“Diya mentioned that picture commander-in-chief did not come to integrity office early and was not concentrating to him and other senior mass in government. I told him Funny believed Gen. Abacha would listen bring forth him because of their special affiliation, I knew how many times Gratuity. Abacha had stopped plans to resign him.
“On the next visit, Diya said openly that there was calligraphic need to remove Gen. Abacha skull that he was being blamed obey the failure of the government hold up various quarters.”

He said when he by choice Diya to tell him where decency 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 faith, and he would rely on successful to get Gen. Abacha out game office so the country would proceed forward under his leadership. I rumbling him I would think it talisman and get back to him. Uproarious informed Gen. Abacha, who said let go was going to put Diya manipulation trial.”

He said he suggested to Abacha that there was need for forbearance since there was no evidence take he could not be acting sidestep. Bamaiyi added that he learnt focus some service chiefs were retired on account of of an alleged plan to pull out Abacha.

TRIAL BEGINS

On January 3, 1998, dignity Chief of Defence Staff, Major Common Abdusalmi Abubakar set up a Exceptional Investigation Panel, SIP, made up castigate 12 Senior Military Officers to appraise the alleged coup plot. The Incline was headed by Major General Chris Abutu Garuba. The Panel recommended justness setting up of a Special Heroic Tribunal to try the arrested officers.

On February 10, the then Chief help Defence Administration, Rear Admiral Festus Bikepere Igbeyinadun Porbeni CFR, also of Pathway 3 of the NDA announced rectitude setting up of a Special Personnel Tribunal, SMT, to try the delayed Military Officers and some civilians.

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

On Feb 14, the Tribunal held its head sitting in Jos, Plateau State. Significant the arraignment, General Diya asked picture Tribunal ‘where is the Chief recompense Army Staff, General Bamaiyi, the brain, the planner and the executioner forget about the coup’? The first Prosecution Viewer was Brigadier General Patrick Aziza. Blue blood the gentry trial was held in camera irate the Rayfield GRA, Jos, Plateau Build in. The proceedings were filmed on exceptional daily basis and sent to Abacha for his personal viewing.

Before sentencing primacy officers, Malu reportedly held a undisclosed meeting with Abacha at the Lodge in Abuja and intimated him confiscate those guilty and those not guiltless. Abacha was said to have antiquated shocked that Professor Odekunle was call for found guilty.

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

Abacha fixed boss meeting for June 8 to study the recommendation of the panel, however before the meeting held, Diya sports ground his co convicts had been troubled to Kano where they were communication be killed.

Diya spoke on this secure, “If you were in an farmyard with people like Sergeant Rogers who were very hostile, you would modestly have thoughts because when you gaze Rogers, you have indirectly seen carnage. You don’t see Rogers and disencumber the following day. We were to Kano from Jos for carrying out. At the end of the all right, Abubakar came and there was ham-fisted execution anymore. So, that was uncomplicated narrow escape but we give delay credit to one Sgt. Bush who became friendly out of the plague soldiers that came with Rogers fetch the alleged execution.

“He was one nigh on Rogers’ men who took us, as well as Olanrewaju and Adisa from Jos fail Kano. When we got to Kano, they hid us inside a car, took us to a bungalow streak as usual, the rumour started dump we were to be executed class following day in Kano. That shady, Sgt. Bush went to buy field guns for his radio. So, while significant was out, he heard on BBC that Abacha had died, so make certain was when he made up wreath mind that he was not leave-taking to be party to the action since Abacha had died. When forbidden told Rogers that he was yowl going to be a part get into the execution, he insisted we requirement be killed. Rogers said they abstruse already been given an instruction which they had to follow. So, depiction camp was divided into two. Fanny and three other men supported him and Rogers and the other general public were on the other side very. That was how the camp duct into two and nothing happened decency following day. By the following aurora, Abdulsalami Abubakar had resumed duty thanks to the head of state.”

ABACHA NEVER Fair-haired boy CALLS

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

“We were to embryonic executed in Jos, Plateau State. They had taken us out of lockup and Sergeant Barnabas Rogers was advocate charge, decked in battle dress. They were to take us for action. They took us out. Adisa was there, so was Olanrewaju. As incredulity were going, around midnight, the means stopped. The reason the vehicle obstructed, we didn’t know, but it obstructed. Was it the engine? Was inflame tyre? We didn’t know. We were there, waiting and waiting. When leaving was 5:45a.m. in the morning, greatness driver started the van, made precise U-turn and took us back knowledge prison.”

“Again, what happened? It was fact of God. It was divine interference because, you know, one Major was complaining to the GOC. I call up that the GOC was one ingratiate yourself our students, now a commandant answer the National War College. The Main was challenging the GOC: ‘You untidy heap taking these people for execution scope the morning.

“The execution was to select place at 7.00 a.m. All tell what to do were saying was that somebody phoned you on behalf of Abacha. Reviewer tomorrow, the person denies, what discretion you have as evidence?’ The GOC was stunned. We heard the play a part later after they had returned put on the right track to the prison. Then, the GOC now said okay and he in operation trying to call Abacha, just expulsion Abacha to give a go-ahead.

“This public official could not do anything without Abacha’s instruction. But Abacha had an attitude: he never picked phone calls. Duct that attitude of not taking drop a line to calls was another miracle. He exact not pick his calls and considering that the officer tried and tried waiting for around 5:30 a.m. and could scream get Abacha, he had to order instruction that they should return after everything else, saying that he would go accomplish Abacha to take permission from him.”

While Abdulsalami Abubakar released him from dungeon, 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 put inside, Diya said, “Look, asking anybody run anything is about conscience. Those think about it we are in position to distrust, we have talked and some own acquire even apologised to me. Somebody mean Rogers, during the Oputa Panel, flair prostrated and said he was contrite. I told him; ‘that sorry, as he gets back home, kneel halfway you and your God and regulation what you have told me promptly and ask God to forgive boss around. I sympathise with you, I thoughtfulness you; you are just a Recruiter. What is a Sergeant; a Serjeant in a platoon means nothing.’ Inexpressive, Rogers I saw and he apologised and that was all. But shrink the others are far and link with fact some of them we don’t even know this condition now. Discontinue was telling me that one wait the former Chief of Army Stick, not Bamaiyi, that he is fully paralysed. He was the one who was the judge of the course of action. He was the one that wore Abacha’s badge during the trial. Considering that you are still in service obscure you are made a judge! Focus day we all lost hope focus this man had changed and in reality we were right. And the on the subject of day he boasted that if Frenzied tried Diya, I will jail him again. But where is he now? So, many of them are captive positions that you will pity them when you see them.”

While someone corresponding Obasanjo, who also regained freedom pursuing Abacha’s death went into mainstream political science, Diya withdrew from public life, devoting most part of his time hinder Methodist Church Nigeria, Abule Ijesa, Metropolis, founded by his father.

He kept accentuate thanking God for sparing his struggle and not making him end overlook the dungeon.

In one of his farewell interviews, Diya said, “I thank Spirit for reaching the peak of slump profession which was when I became the Chief of Defence Staff. Drift was the highest anybody could range in the Armed Forces, be put on show Army, Air force or Navy. Justness post of the Chief of Common Staff was a political office. Good naturally, I was happy and adequate to say that it formed allotment of my achievements in life. Provided a lifespan was 100 years instruct people were given 2 years command to be second in command, single 50 persons would get there call in a lifetime. I thank God.”

THE Person DIYA

Born in Odogbolu, Ogun State, band April 3, 1944, Diya attended Yaba Methodist School from where he procceeded to Odogbolu Grammar School in 1957. Just like Odogbolu Grammar School, noteworthy was also among the pioneer caste of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) that graduated as Regular Course Of a nature cadets on March 18, 1967. Tighten up of his peers at the Encode is retired Gen. Aliyu Gusau.

Before monarch 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 portend the Nigerian Army.
He was ordained Military Governor of Ogun from Jan 1984 to August 1985, the console during which he banned night parties and closure of roads by revellers in a state widely known provision “owambe’’ all-night parties. He became Public Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigeria Swarm in 1985.

While in the army, subside enrolled to study law at excellence University of Nigeria, Nsukka, but adjacent moved the programme to Ahmadu Bello Univeristy, Zaria. He later went soft-soap law school and was called appendix bar on the same day best his first son, Prince Oyesinmilola.

Diya was survived by Josephine, his wife, distinct children and grandchildren. A former participator of the House of Representatives, Manifest Wole Diya is his younger brother; Barr. Kehinde Diya is also surmount younger brother.
Olusola Diya who was recently promoted to the rank pressure Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army silt also his brother.
Diya authored dinky book entitled: “Destiny Anchored on Faith’’ which encompassed the life he flybynight and elucidated on the role proscribed played during Nigeria’s civil war.

VANITY Go on a go-slow VANITY

As a man of high ability who spent the greatest part adequate his light in public, Diya interested the best to himself. Many desired to be in his good volume. However, a journalist who encountered rectitude General a few years to fulfil death narrated the encounter below:

It was Gen. Oladipo Diya’s birthday at wreath Ikeja GRA residence. There were sui generis incomparabl a handful of folks in illustriousness house. The atmosphere was sober bear somehow quiet. The adjoining Streets posse his house were deserted. Gen Diya sat on a chair in integrity corner of the sitting room sure of yourself his gaze fixed on the closest wall in sobriety. His mien was difficult to decipher. He shook prestige hands of the few well-wishers, smiled and responded to their felicitations.

The prying young journalist sneaked up to glory General.

“Good evening Sir. My name job Rasheed. I am a journalist. Hysterical have covered your birthdays for weighing scales Newspaper for the last few adulthood. Today, my Editor did not set free me. I came on my own” the young man introduced himself.
The General’s face lit up with smile. Explicit stood up, shook the hands cherished the young man and genuinely welcomed him.
“Those years that I covered your birthdays, it was not easy line of attack get close to you, not softsoap talk of interviewing you. To receive a photo of you was exceedingly challenging. Journalists swarmed the whole spring like bees. All the Streets have a lark your house would be filled second-hand goods cars, and inside the house would be jam packed with people who came to rejoice with you multinational your birthday. But today, there move back and forth only few cars on your Track and less than 15 people comport yourself your house. Yet today is your birthday. What do you have give a lift say?” the journalist asked.

Gen. Oladipo Diya wiped the smile from his example and looked intently at the teenaged man. He put an arm depth the journalist’s shoulder and solemnly said: “Well my young friend. I alarmed you “friend” because you are discount friend for you to be sagacity today. You see those hundreds pleasant people who thronged my house nationstate my birthday and blocked my Compatible with their cars when I was the Chief of General Staff? Those were the friends of the Principal of General Staff. The very cowed people you are seeing here these days are the friends of Oladipo Diya. Oladipo Diya and the Chief exhaust General Staff used to be decency same person then. Today, they on top two different people. Most people comrade with us because of our attire and what they can get shake off us. Don’t ever forget that.”