By TOM CHIAHEMEN and DAVID IORJA (Abuja) –
President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with former Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya, over the passing of his wife, Chief Deborah Folashade Diya, praying that the almighty God will comfort the family.
Mrs Deborah Diya died on Monday, May 18, 2020 after a brief illness at age 66, according a statement by Olawale Adekoya, Special Adviser to General Diya.
Diya was second-in-command to military dictator, General Sani Abacha, who ruled Nigeria’s Head of State from November 23,1993 – June 8, 1998.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Femi Adenina on Wednesday, the President joined family members, friends and associates of Chief Folashade Diya, particularly members of the United African Methodist (Evangelical) Church, in mourning the devout Christian, who dedicated her time on earth to serving God, and working for the good of others.
President Buhari affirmed that the wife of the former Chief of General Staff lived to encourage and inspire many on faith in God, demonstrating love, kindness and generosity through focus on helping the underprivileged, and counselling many.
He prayed that the soul of the departed would find rest in God.Adekoya’s statement reads: “The song is ended, but the melody lingers on. With grief in our hearts but gratitude to Almighty God, we announce the transition onto eternal glory of Otunba (Chief) Mrs Deborah Folashade Diya (JP), wife of His Excellency, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya, (retd) GCON, MNI; whose death occurred on Monday, May 18, 2020. She was aged 66.
“Madam Deborah Folashade Diya was preparing and looking forward to her 66th birthday celebration on May 23rd 2020 (this week). But as man proposes, God disposes; six days ago, she took ill and was taken to the hospital, where she took her last breath on Monday, May 18. Otunba Folashade Deborah Diya dedicated her life to the emancipation of humanity and service of the Almighty God. “She was a devout Christian, a loyal and dedicated wife, a loving mother, an alluring grandmother and a passionate chorister at United African Methodist (Evangelical) Church, Abule Ijesha, Yaba, Lagos. She was a chorister who sang and danced for the Lord all the way.
“Inspite of her privileged position as the wife of a former Military Vice President in the country, she didn’t live the life of celebrity or ostentation. Rather, she adopted a humble life of dedication to God.”
“She was a silent operator who always made things work out positively: disciplined, focussed and straight forward.”
General Diya and other senior military officers were arrested in 1997 for allegedly plotting to toppled General Abacha via a coup.
They were tried in a military tribunal sitting in Jos, the Plateau state capital and headed by a former commander of the West African regional peacekeeping force, ECOMOG. Diya and some other officers were handed the death penalty even as many Nigerians believed the who exercise was a ploy by Abacha to eliminate Diya and pave the way for his planned transformation into a civilian life president.
The phantom coup plot itself came after two failed attempts, ostensibly, to assassinate Diya, including the bomb saga at the airport.
In an ironic twist of fate, however, General Abacha suddenly died on June 8, 1998 while Diya and the others were still awaiting execution by firing squad.
General AbdulSalami Abubakar, the erstwhile Chief of Defence Staff, who succeeded Abacha as Head of State, granted pardon to Diya and his group.
Since retirement from the army after the near escape with death, Donaldson Oladipo Diya, who was born in Odogbolu, Ogun state exactly 76 years ago, has lived a quiet life, shunning politics, unlike most of his contemporaries.
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