Obasanjo spoke in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi.
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has reacted to the death of late Oladipo Diya, who was the second-in-command to the then military dictator, late General Sani Abacha, from 1994 to 1997.
Speaking through his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo remarked that the demise of Diya has depleted the ranks of the nation’s leadership, saying the nation has lost a resourceful patriot, who served the nation as an Army Officer, community leader and a legal practitioner.
Obasanjo noted that in his three decades in military service, Diya acquitted himself as a dedicated officer and a real patriot, especially from the thick of the Nigerian Civil War to the post-war re-organisation of the Army.
The former Military Head of State explained that Diya’s rare diligence, loyalty and resourcefulness earned him various appointments such as Commander 31, Airborne Brigade; Military Governor of Ogun State; General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigeria Army in 1985; Commandant, National War College, 1991–1993 and later he functioned as the number two man under Abacha.
“I recall as a Military Governor of Ogun State, he made a tremendous mark through dedication to duty, loyalty to his fatherland and an impeccable example of incorruptible leadership. He was courageous and quite a disciplinarian and a no-nonsense officer,” Obasanjo was quoted as saying.
In retirement, the late Diya was said to have contributed to national development by providing employment for many as a businessman and legal practitioner.
While saying his entire family is wishing the Diya family the comfort and solace needed during this period, he said there is the reason to thank God that Diya’s life was a great success and his achievements unforgettable.