BUHARI NEEDS PRAYERS TO FIGHT CORRUPT POLITICIANS –DIYA

Former Chief of Gen¬eral Staff, General Oladipo Diya, has urged Nigerians to pray for President-elect, General Muhammadu Bu¬hari, and Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to make a success of their administration.
Speaking with Daily Sun in his Ikeja, Lagos residence at the weekend, the former number two citizen said Bu¬hari and Osinbajo were men of integrity mandated to lead the country in the midst of many corrupt politicians.
He said the duo needed God’s support to tackle cor¬ruption without being frus¬trated.
Diya described Buhari, who was his boss when he was the military governor of Ogun State between 1984 and 1985, as a highly disci¬plined man who would not tolerate any act of indisci¬pline.

I WILL SUPPORT BEST PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE – DIYA

Former Chief of General Staff (CGS), General Oladipo Diya, said yesterday he would support only the best candidate in next month’s presidential election.
This is even as he urged President Goodluck Jonathan and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, to play by the electoral rules.
The former number two Nigerian, was, however, silent on his preferred candidate, even as he refused to confirm the statement by former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida that retired Generals have endorsed Buhari’s ambition.
Speaking exclusively with Daily Sun in Abuja, Diya dismissed fears that the forthcoming general elections may tear the nation apart. “No, no, no, no. It cannot divide Nigeria at all. Nigeria has come together and nothing by the grace of God, will divide us.

‘WHY I REFUSED TO SIGN ABIOLA’S DETENTION PAPER’

Lt-Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd),has held senior military postings and commands among which is as a former Chief of General Staff and former military governor of Ogun State. Gen Diya, who recently turned 70, in this interview reflects on his life, career, the late Gen. Abacha and the late MKO Abiola.
IT’S not every day that one clocks 70; what would you consider the high points and maybe the low points of your last 70 years?
I don’t know where I should start from. What I consider the highest point, would be the day I was commissioned. I believe in the word labour, high display of discipline; in fact from everybody around me. Being an officer cadet, they wanted the best out of you, so every little thing you did (wrong) was always accompanied by punishment. So the day I was commissioned was exciting: lights went off at midnight and a minute after midnight, the lights came on again and you’re decorated with a pip on the shoulder and you immediately become an officer from that point. And everybody salutes you. Even the sergeant, who had earlier marched you in, immediately salutes you.