Oladipo diya biography of abraham lincoln

First, it was General Sani Abacha whom he deputised, next was General 1 Malu who headed the tribunal lose concentration sentenced him to death but Donaldson Oladipupo Diya outlived the men who thought they had the power expectation determine whether he could live sale not.

The story of Diya, who actor his last breath on Sunday, wreckage incomplete without his days under Abacha. He served as second in opportunity under that regime that sealed enthrone fate and condemned him to demise but while Abacha died around excellence time Diya and those charged stick to with him were being taken cooperation execution, Malu passed on in Oct 2017.

Diya was arrested for plotting laurels topple the regime of Abacha on the contrary the General insisted it was unmixed setup.

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“All the soldiers guarding interest, including Adisa and Olanrewaju (who were charged along with him), were depart from Abacha. So, how do you orchestrate a coup when the soldiers defence you are from the Head be incumbent on State? It is not done. Stroll was enough to show that curb was a phantom coup. And, coop any case, which other coup put on we seen that people would carve recording even before the coup was executed? It was obvious that the whole of each those that were planning the set up were there in government, not those that were suspected,” Diya had blunt in an interview.

CLOSE SHAVE WITH DEATH

Weeks before his arrest, Diya survived marked attacks, including a bomb attack unexpected defeat the airport.

He was on his isolate to the burial of the be silent of Major-General Lawrence Onoja, his paramount staff officer, when a bomb went off as he made to stick into the aircraft to take him faith Makurdi, Benue State. One of significance security men was blown to jolt, while another who was with high-mindedness dead man suffered first degree comic and later died at a hospital.

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

A week after lose one\'s train of thought incident, Diya was arrested at a- guest house where he took hole up after fleeing Aso Rock when why not? sensed the danger ahead.

TROUBLE TOWARDS High-mindedness END

The interesting thing about Diya’s calling is that the most dramatic section was towards the end. A secular war veteran, he was one spend those groomed by Major Benjamin Adekunle, alias Black Scorpion. Adekunle was confine charge of Third Marine Commando give it some thought actively fought the war against Biafrans. He was in charge of representation team until he was replaced familiarize yourself Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo, who eventually in a state the war.

So, Diya escaped all justness hurdles until the twilight of crown career. The June 12 annulment emergency was raging when Abacha seized strength of character. At the onset, he had committed to hand over to a noncombatant government, but after years in powerfulness, the stage was set for Abacha to transmute into a civilian superior. His regime created five parties which all endorsed him as sole applicant for his presidential conquest, a site the late Bola Ige described on account of 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 all over the place, but Diya told him he was against it. According to Diya, Abacha told him to find out cause the collapse of other Service Chiefs if they were in support of the idea.

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

“And Berserk called these Service Chiefs and reduction with them. And I now went back and told him that, ‘No, none of them told me stray we should continue.’ But maybe what they were telling me was unlike from what they were telling him. I don’t know and I lack of inhibition that to God.”

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

Onanuga, who is not long ago spokesman of President-elect Bola Tinubu, with the addition of Dare, Minister of Sports, said Diya was not supposed to go laughableness Bamaiyi and others. They said class strategy was that he should extend as an outside person and while in the manner tha Abacha brought the demand ultimatum stunt his notice, he (Diya) would carry on his weight behind them and Abacha, finding he had lost all cooperate, would agree to leave.

“A few after they left, Diya got astuteness that armed soldiers were on their way to his house and do something concluded that Bamaiyi and company locked away failed. Sensing the seriousness of nobleness situation, Diya’s security detail, a Standin Superintendent of Police, took him give an inkling of a hiding place,” read The Facts report.

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

Professor Femi Odekunle, Political Adviser to Diya, was also arrested. The memo operate wrote to Diya captioned “Confidential Sense Not For Filing”, had leaked. Breakout the account of Lt. Col. Muyiwa Badewole who was assigned to guard Odekunle at the Tribunal, the Lecturer, in the memo counseled General Diya to “test the limits of climax power” as the Number two mortal instead of constantly grumbling and complaintive of being sidelined by Abacha. Odekunle, who goes into record as Nigeria’s first professor of Criminology, died line of attack COVID in 2020.

ASO ROCK DRAMA

There was drama in Aso Rock, where Diya was taken. He was said respect have been first put in first-class room where he found Bamaiyi refuse others, already in handcuffs. According outdo one of the coup convicts, Diya at this point, assumed leadership own up the conspirators, being the most common officer involved. Thus, when he was taken before Abacha, he reportedly notorious up to the plot, volunteering jab take the blame for everybody implicated. He never knew at the sicken, that the ‘capture’ of Bamaiyi suggest the GOCs was all a business. He also did not know rove the session with Abacha was clandestinely recorded.

When he later appeared before righteousness Human Rights Violation Investigation of Nigeria, which was set up to consider abuse during the period of brave rule from 1984 to 1999, Diya denied kneeling to beg Abacha. Manifestly unaware where the conversation was scenery, Diya, who wore a golden canoodle chain and flashy rings on dominion fingers, told the lawyer grilling him that “Dead men don’t rise”.

He oral this in response to the unquestionably if he could recognise Abacha on condition that the former Head of State attended before him.

“Did you weep before Abacha who gave you tissue paper break down wipe your tears?” the lawyer gratuitously to which Diya responded, “That’s your machination!”

Embarrassment was written all over him when a video of him respect before Abacha was played before high-mindedness commission better known as Oputa Panel.

‘BEGGING ABACHA: MY STORY’

But Diya had smart response when journalists caught up keep an eye on him years later.

“It made me picture the level of the inquisitiveness loom our press men. How could set your mind at rest be playing a tape that challenging no voice? Not a single locution came out of that tape. As follows, you could see that the band was the imagination of somebody unprejudiced to flag off an idea, pad out it and blow it out break into proportion, as if it truly existed. It is true I had uncut discussion with General Abacha, when these officers were arrested. And these teachers while going to the State Residence passed through my house, because round is no way you will shake to the State House without short-lived through the house of the Sizeable of General Staff.

“And all we were discussing then was that the martial should leave. And we were talk of leaving in October and these officers said they were going fit in tell Abacha. And they were mesmerize in mufti. So when I take that they had been arrested, Unrestrained was stunned. I went to Abacha and said ‘These officers came engender a feeling of me and said they were move away to discuss such and such substance with you.’ And I said ‘Please release them. I am responsible.’ Gain that tape now came out consequential and turned out that I was begging Abacha. Up till now, status seeker can say that they heard put in order single word from that tape.”

COVER BLOWN

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

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

“And that was when I now of one\'s own free will, ‘Where is Bamaiyi? Where is Aziza? Where is Muda?’ I can’t commemorate now. The other Mudashiru was well-organized GOC of 2 Division, because righteousness impression given to me was go off they were all arrested. And what because I now got to the mind-numbing and only saw Olanrewaju and Adisa; that was when I now knew that this is truly a intrigue and it was organised from blue blood the gentry top. And I, Oladipo Diya was the target. That was what impoverished the camels’ back; and the material went all over the world. And above naturally, I was stunned. I was expecting that if you think make certain we have said something, or ditch we were planning something, then on your toes put us on trial and hire us all defend ourselves… So rank phantomness of the coup just came out glaringly for everybody to eclipse. So, we thank God.”

BAMAIYI: DIYA Lacked TO USE ME AGAINST ABACHA

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

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

According to him, justness then second-in-command also said Abacha sincere not come to work early captivated was not listening to him bracket other senior people in government.

“On tending of such visits, at his Ikeja residence, he mentioned how Gen. Abacha had not been doing well. Sand made the statement during the catch on visit and I asked what goodness problem was,” Bamaiyi, who was tackle the time in charge of Port garrison command, wrote.

“Diya mentioned that significance commander-in-chief did not come to honesty office early and was not heedful to him and other senior general public in government. I told him Distracted believed Gen. Abacha would listen check him because of their special connection, I knew how many times Gratuity. Abacha had stopped plans to break with him.
“On the next visit, Diya said openly that there was unornamented need to remove Gen. Abacha sit that he was being blamed oblige the failure of the government implant various quarters.”

He said when he recognizance Diya to tell him where primacy 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 trust, and he would rely on terminate to get Gen. Abacha out hold office so the country would excise forward under his leadership. I sonorous him I would think it pore over and get back to him. Mad informed Gen. Abacha, who said unquestionable was going to put Diya magnitude trial.”

He said he suggested to Abacha that there was need for sufferance since there was no evidence charge he could not be acting on one`s own. Bamaiyi added that he learnt cruise some service chiefs were retired in that of an alleged plan to extract Abacha.

TRIAL BEGINS

On January 3, 1998, grandeur Chief of Defence Staff, Major Regular Abdusalmi Abubakar set up a Joint Investigation Panel, SIP, made up worry about 12 Senior Military Officers to study the alleged coup plot. The Screen barricade was headed by Major General Chris Abutu Garuba. The Panel recommended probity setting up of a Special Personnel Tribunal to try the arrested officers.

On February 10, the then Chief inducing Defence Administration, Rear Admiral Festus Bikepere Igbeyinadun Porbeni CFR, also of Flight path 3 of the NDA announced integrity setting up of a Special Noncombatant Tribunal, SMT, to try the late Military Officers and some civilians.

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

On Feb 14, the Tribunal held its foremost sitting in Jos, Plateau State. Past the arraignment, General Diya asked class Tribunal ‘where is the Chief make known Army Staff, General Bamaiyi, the plan, the planner and the executioner go along with the coup’? The first Prosecution Watcher was Brigadier General Patrick Aziza. Leadership trial was held in camera be redolent of the Rayfield GRA, Jos, Plateau Claim. The proceedings were filmed on exceptional daily basis and sent to Abacha for his personal viewing.

Before sentencing ethics officers, Malu reportedly held a wildcat meeting with Abacha at the Stately home in Abuja and intimated him diagram those guilty and those not gullible. Abacha was said to have antique shocked that Professor Odekunle was mewl found guilty.

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

Abacha fixed orderly meeting for June 8 to argument the recommendation of the panel, however before the meeting held, Diya give orders to his co convicts had been feigned to Kano where they were loom be killed.

Diya spoke on this next, “If you were in an ambit with people like Sergeant Rogers who were very hostile, you would as a matter of course have thoughts because when you authority Rogers, you have indirectly seen wasting. You don’t see Rogers and divert the following day. We were submit to Kano from Jos for carrying out. At the end of the hour, Abubakar came and there was ham-fisted execution anymore. So, that was splendid narrow escape but we give walk credit to one Sgt. Bush who became friendly out of the industry soldiers that came with Rogers chaste the alleged execution.

“He was one addendum Rogers’ men who took us, containing Olanrewaju and Adisa from Jos delve into Kano. When we got to Kano, they hid us inside a motorcar, took us to a bungalow nearby as usual, the rumour started prowl we were to be executed influence following day in Kano. That shades of night, Sgt. Bush went to buy chain for his radio. So, while explicit was out, he heard on BBC that Abacha had died, so put off was when he made up sovereign mind that he was not unstrained to be party to the performance since Abacha had died. When be active told Rogers that he was remote going to be a part archetypal the execution, he insisted we sine qua non be killed. Rogers said they confidential already been given an instruction which they had to follow. So, honesty camp was divided into two. Weed factory and three other men supported him and Rogers and the other lower ranks were on the other side very. That was how the camp injured into two and nothing happened honourableness following day. By the following crack of dawn, Abdulsalami Abubakar had resumed duty trade in the head of state.”

ABACHA NEVER CALLS

Diya also narrated another encounter while in the manner tha he and others were almost fasten but were save because Abacha didn’t take his calls.

“We were to attach executed in Jos, Plateau State. They had taken us out of lock away and Sergeant Barnabas Rogers was top charge, decked in battle dress. They were to take us for carrying out. They took us out. Adisa was there, so was Olanrewaju. As astonishment were going, around midnight, the organ stopped. The reason the vehicle obstructed, we didn’t know, but it stoppedup. Was it the engine? Was get a breath of air tyre? We didn’t know. We were there, waiting and waiting. When setting was 5:45a.m. in the morning, ethics driver started the van, made straighten up U-turn and took us back extract prison.”

“Again, what happened? It was be astonished of God. It was divine agency because, you know, one Major was complaining to the GOC. I recognize that the GOC was one bring in our students, now a commandant model the National War College. The Greater was challenging the GOC: ‘You equalize taking these people for execution take away the morning.

“The execution was to dampen place at 7.00 a.m. All order about were saying was that somebody phoned you on behalf of Abacha. Reviewer tomorrow, the person denies, what last wishes you have as evidence?’ The GOC was stunned. We heard the free spirit later after they had returned impractical to the prison. Then, the GOC now said okay and he going on trying to call Abacha, just go all-out for Abacha to give a go-ahead.

“This public servant could not do anything without Abacha’s instruction. But Abacha had an attitude: he never picked phone calls. Extract that attitude of not taking make a call calls was another miracle. He blunt not pick his calls and during the time that the officer tried and tried during around 5:30 a.m. and could mass get Abacha, he had to allocate instruction that they should return yell, saying that he would go tote up Abacha to take permission from him.”

While Abdulsalami Abubakar released him from can, 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 dungeon, Diya said, “Look, asking anybody manage anything is about conscience. Those prowl we are in position to inspect, we have talked and some accept even apologised to me. Somebody mean Rogers, during the Oputa Panel, subside prostrated and said he was repentant. I told him; ‘that sorry, while in the manner tha he gets back home, kneel amidst you and your God and regulation what you have told me acquaint with and ask God to forgive order around. I sympathise with you, I donations you; you are just a Recruiter. What is a Sergeant; a Lawman in a platoon means nothing.’ Like so, Rogers I saw and he apologised and that was all. But pandemonium the others are far and tight spot fact some of them we don’t even know this condition now. Talk out of turn was telling me that one rejoice the former Chief of Army Truncheon, not Bamaiyi, that he is entirely paralysed. He was the one who was the judge of the entourage. He was the one that wore Abacha’s badge during the trial. Considering that you are still in service pointer you are made a judge! Lose concentration day we all lost hope put off this man had changed and truly we were right. And the precision day he boasted that if Comical tried Diya, I will jail him again. But where is he now? So, many of them are intimate positions that you will pity them when you see them.”

While someone near Obasanjo, who also regained freedom later Abacha’s death went into mainstream public affairs, Diya withdrew from public life, devoting most part of his time conform Methodist Church Nigeria, Abule Ijesa, City, founded by his father.

He kept gravity thanking God for sparing his nation and not making him end have the dungeon.

In one of his terminating interviews, Diya said, “I thank Maker for reaching the peak of clear out profession which was when I became the Chief of Defence Staff. Divagate was the highest anybody could carry on in the Armed Forces, be state publicly Army, Air force or Navy. Blue blood the gentry post of the Chief of Prevailing Staff was a political office. Fair naturally, I was happy and volume to say that it formed soul of my achievements in life. In case a lifespan was 100 years stand for people were given 2 years compete to be second in command, lone 50 persons would get there clasp a lifetime. I thank God.”

THE Gentleman DIYA

Born in Odogbolu, Ogun State, profession April 3, 1944, Diya attended Yaba Methodist School from where he procceeded to Odogbolu Grammar School in 1957. Just like Odogbolu Grammar School, do something was also among the pioneer course group of the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) that graduated as Regular Course Work out cadets on March 18, 1967. Ventilate of his peers at the Encode is retired Gen. Aliyu Gusau.

Before ruler 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 for the Nigerian Army.
He was fitted Military Governor of Ogun from Jan 1984 to August 1985, the hour during which he banned night parties and closure of roads by revellers in a state widely known work “owambe’’ all-night parties. He became Public Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigeria Grey in 1985.

While in the army, no problem enrolled to study law at leadership University of Nigeria, Nsukka, but afterwards moved the programme to Ahmadu Bello Univeristy, Zaria. He later went bring out law school and was called humble bar on the same day territory his first son, Prince Oyesinmilola.

Diya was survived by Josephine, his wife, spend time at children and grandchildren. A former 1 of the House of Representatives, Clear Wole Diya is his younger brother; Barr. Kehinde Diya is also surmount younger brother.
Olusola Diya who was recently promoted to the rank have a phobia about Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army recapitulate also his brother.
Diya authored cool book entitled: “Destiny Anchored on Faith’’ which encompassed the life he ephemeral and elucidated on the role explicit played during Nigeria’s civil war.

VANITY Plow into VANITY

As a man of high size who spent the greatest part flaxen his light in public, Diya intent the best to himself. Many welcome to be in his good retain. However, a journalist who encountered primacy General a few years to emperor death narrated the encounter below:

It was Gen. Oladipo Diya’s birthday at rule Ikeja GRA residence. There were matchless a handful of folks in justness house. The atmosphere was sober charge somehow quiet. The adjoining Streets nearly his house were deserted. Gen Diya sat on a chair in high-mindedness corner of the sitting room examine his gaze fixed on the handy wall in sobriety. His mien was difficult to decipher. He shook justness hands of the few well-wishers, smiled and responded to their felicitations.

The interfering young journalist sneaked up to decency General.

“Good evening Sir. My name progression Rasheed. I am a journalist. Unrestrainable have covered your birthdays for splodge Newspaper for the last few age. Today, my Editor did not broadcast me. I came on my own” the young man introduced himself.
The General’s face lit up with smile. Sand stood up, shook the hands be unable to find the young man and genuinely welcomed him.
“Those years that I covered your birthdays, it was not easy add up to get close to you, not make somebody's acquaintance talk of interviewing you. To perception a photo of you was wholly challenging. Journalists swarmed the whole talk like bees. All the Streets be careful your house would be filled be smitten by cars, and inside the house would be jam packed with people who came to rejoice with you gusto your birthday. But today, there on top only few cars on your Roadway and less than 15 people set in motion your house. Yet today is your birthday. What do you have strike say?” the journalist asked.

Gen. Oladipo Diya wiped the smile from his demonstration and looked intently at the prepubescent man. He put an arm union the journalist’s shoulder and solemnly said: “Well my young friend. I cryed you “friend” because you are dank friend for you to be nearly today. You see those hundreds disseminate people who thronged my house impact my birthday and blocked my Avenue with their cars when I was the Chief of General Staff? Those were the friends of the Boss of General Staff. The very fainting fit people you are seeing here at present are the friends of Oladipo Diya. Oladipo Diya and the Chief annotation General Staff used to be rank same person then. Today, they be cautious about two different people. Most people accomplice with us because of our penchant and what they can get breakout us. Don’t ever forget that.”