Donaldson Oladipo Diya (born 3 April 1944) is a retired Nigerian Army, Lieutenant General. He presided over Ogun State as military governor from January 1984 to August 1985.
From 1994 and the time he was detained for treason in 1997 while serving as Chief of the General Staff, he served as de facto Vice President of Nigeria under the Sani Abacha military regime.
Bode George served as his chief of staff during this time. After democracy was restored in 1999, George went on to have a difficult career with the People’s Democratic Party.
Oladipo Diya Biography
From 1950 to 1956, Diya attended the Yaba Methodist School in Lagos. From 1957 to 1962, he attended Odogbolu as a pioneer student. He attended the Nigerian Defense Academy in Kaduna as well.
Throughout his time in the military, Diya pursued legal studies, first at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where he received an LLB, and then at the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to the bar and appointed an advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
| Full Name | Oladipo Diya |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Age | 79 |
| Date of Birth | April 3, 1944 |
| Place of Birth | Ogun (state), Nigeria |
| Star Sign | Aries |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Gender | Male |
Oladipo Diya Career
Due to his West African Senior School Certificate results, Diya was excluded from the qualifying exams and enlisted in the Nigerian Army as a direct entry recruit in 1964. After three and a half years of rigorous military training at the Academy, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in March 1967.
Diya has held a variety of positions since being commissioned in the Nigerian Army in 1967 as a 2nd Lieutenant. Prior to becoming the Commanding Officer of the 101 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in 1968, he served as a Platoon Commander of the 6th Battalion, Ikeja. He also served as the Director of Personnel Services and Deputy Adjutant-General for the Nigerian Army between 1973 to 1976.
In Lebanon in 1980, the United Nations Interim Force conducted peacekeeping operations under Brigadier Diya’s command. He served as the Chief Military Personnel Officer for the entire UNIFIL in Lebanon at the same time.
Personal Life of Oladipo Diya
Despite being a Christian and the son of a pastor, General Diya was married to two different ladies. “The issue of wives differs according to denomination,” he said in reference to this. Why don’t you follow the example of the Catholics and not get married at all if you belong to a denomination that forbids even getting engaged? If someone mentions two wives and you only have one.
If you want to be canons, the bible advises you to get married. Thus, people aspiring to the positions of bishop or canon should limit their marriage to one. Jesus remarked that marriage in paradise is unlike anything else when a question regarding a woman who married seven siblings from the same family was raised. The topic of marriage is now resolved, so as long as one has a pure heart—as Jesus also said: “Happy are the pure in heart because they shall see God”—individuals are free to choose their wives.
Oladipo Diya’s Death
Lt. General Oladipo Diya, the former Chief of General Staff under the late President of State General Sani Abacha, was said to have passed away on March 26, 2023.
On Sunday morning, Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, his son, released a statement to confirm his passing.
It reads;
On behalf of the entire Diya family home and abroad; we announce the passing on to the glory of our dear husband, father, grandfather, brother, Lt-General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (rtd) GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni.
Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023. Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period. Further announcements will be made public in due course.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Donaldson Oladipo Diya (born 3 April 1944) is a retired Nigerian Army, Lieutenant General. He presided over Ogun State as military governor from January 1984 to August 1985.
From 1994 and the time he was detained for treason in 1997 while serving as Chief of the General Staff, he served as de facto Vice President of Nigeria under the Sani Abacha military regime.
Bode George served as his chief of staff during this time. After democracy was restored in 1999, George went on to have a difficult career with the People’s Democratic Party.
Oladipo Diya Biography
From 1950 to 1956, Diya attended the Yaba Methodist School in Lagos. From 1957 to 1962, he attended Odogbolu as a pioneer student. He attended the Nigerian Defense Academy in Kaduna as well.
Throughout his time in the military, Diya pursued legal studies, first at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where he received an LLB, and then at the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to the bar and appointed an advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
| Full Name | Oladipo Diya |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Age | 79 |
| Date of Birth | April 3, 1944 |
| Place of Birth | Ogun (state), Nigeria |
| Star Sign | Aries |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Gender | Male |
Oladipo Diya Career
Due to his West African Senior School Certificate results, Diya was excluded from the qualifying exams and enlisted in the Nigerian Army as a direct entry recruit in 1964. After three and a half years of rigorous military training at the Academy, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in March 1967.
Diya has held a variety of positions since being commissioned in the Nigerian Army in 1967 as a 2nd Lieutenant. Prior to becoming the Commanding Officer of the 101 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in 1968, he served as a Platoon Commander of the 6th Battalion, Ikeja. He also served as the Director of Personnel Services and Deputy Adjutant-General for the Nigerian Army between 1973 to 1976.
In Lebanon in 1980, the United Nations Interim Force conducted peacekeeping operations under Brigadier Diya’s command. He served as the Chief Military Personnel Officer for the entire UNIFIL in Lebanon at the same time.
Personal Life of Oladipo Diya
Despite being a Christian and the son of a pastor, General Diya was married to two different ladies. “The issue of wives differs according to denomination,” he said in reference to this. Why don’t you follow the example of the Catholics and not get married at all if you belong to a denomination that forbids even getting engaged? If someone mentions two wives and you only have one.
If you want to be canons, the bible advises you to get married. Thus, people aspiring to the positions of bishop or canon should limit their marriage to one. Jesus remarked that marriage in paradise is unlike anything else when a question regarding a woman who married seven siblings from the same family was raised. The topic of marriage is now resolved, so as long as one has a pure heart—as Jesus also said: “Happy are the pure in heart because they shall see God”—individuals are free to choose their wives.
Oladipo Diya’s Death
Lt. General Oladipo Diya, the former Chief of General Staff under the late President of State General Sani Abacha, was said to have passed away on March 26, 2023.
On Sunday morning, Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, his son, released a statement to confirm his passing.
It reads;
On behalf of the entire Diya family home and abroad; we announce the passing on to the glory of our dear husband, father, grandfather, brother, Lt-General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (rtd) GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni.
Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023. Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period. Further announcements will be made public in due course.
