General Oladipo Diya (retd), a former Minister of Communication and the former second‑in‑command of General Sani Abacha’s military regime, has been described as a national loss—a patriot, statesman, courageous officer, and fine gentleman. This tribute comes from Major General Tajudeen Adeniyi Olarenwaju (retd), who, like Diya, was imprisoned by their estranged leader during a phantom coup but escaped death after Abacha’s demise in 1998.
Olarenwaju praised Diya as a principled military officer with a strong intellectual disposition. “His legal knowledge coupled with vast military experience made him excel on many fronts, whether as a no‑nonsense field officer or an office administrator,” he said. He also extended heartfelt condolences to Diya’s nuclear and extended families, colleagues, and friends.
The former communication minister added that Diya will be remembered nationally as an iconic figure in Nigeria’s nation‑building history, despite his military background.
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