ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Nigerian military lost one of its distinguished former leaders, Lt Gen Donaldson Oladipo Diya (Rtd), who died on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at 79. Diya served as the Chief of General Staff and the fifth Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor, on behalf of himself and Armed Forces members, expressed deep sadness over the sudden passing of the elder statesman.
In a statement delivered to The Trent by email on Monday, March 27, 2023, by the Chief of Defence Staff spokesperson, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, General Irabor extended his deepest condolences to the family of the late General Diya and the people of Ogun State, where he hailed from.
General Irabor described Late Gen Diya as a complete gentleman and a thoroughbred General who made positive impacts on the Armed Forces of Nigeria he served meritoriously for 33 years and the nation in general.
He also prayed that the Almighty God grants the departed General eternal rest in His bosom. The statement was sent to The Trent by email.
A condolence register has been opened at the Defence Headquarters for members of the public to register their condolence messages over the passing of the late General Diya.
The late General Diya was born on April 3, 1944, and commissioned into the Nigerian Army in June 1964. He rose to become the Chief of General Staff under the late General Sani Abacha and was a key player in the military regime that governed Nigeria from 1993 to 1998.
After his retirement from the military, he went into private business and was a prominent philanthropist in his community. He will be remembered for his selfless service to the country and his contributions to the growth and development of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
