Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday described former Chief of General Staff, late General Oladipo Diya as a man who served his country with fortrightness and integrity.
The VP spoke at the family house of the late General in Government Reserved Area, Ikeja, when he visited to convey the message of President Muhammadu Buhari to the widow and children of the late former CGS.
Osinbajo was in company of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. He said the late Diya demonstrated loyalty, courage by putting everything on the line in the service of his fatherland.
He said: “We are here to express the sincere condolence of the president and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to my worthy predecessor in office, General Oladipo Diya, who as you know of course, served as effective Vice President under the regime of General Abacha.
“I think that what was important in what we said today was that he served his country loyally and he served his country with great conviction. He put everything on the line for his country not just as a soldier but later as a political leader. And he served with fortrightness, he served with integrity. We are extremely proud of him, we are extremely proud of the legacy that he left and we are extremely proud of all that he was able to achieve in his lifetime…. I pray that his memory will remain blessed and that the Lord Almighty will strengthen the family at this time.”
The Vice President also confirmed to reporters that Diya will be given a state burial as a former number two citizen of the country.
“It’s a state burial… he was a former Vice President, that’s not just the law but convention”, the VP answered to a question from journalists.
One of the late Diya’s children, Oyedamola, who responded on behalf of the family, expressed appreciation to the VP and the federal government for the show of support since the death of their dad.
“My dad was a very great man. It just shows that he’s really appreciated that the government really appreciates him. The Commander in Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, has said a lot of good things about him, the Vice President has said a lot of good things about him, everybody has said a lot of good things about. So, it makes us…we are very proud of him as children”, Oyedamola said.
The late Diya died in the early hours of Sunday, 26th March, 2023 at a private hospital in Lagos. He was 78.
His burial rites are scheduled to begin on July 26 with a Night of Tributes according to a family statement released earlier in the week.
