IT is like a fairy tale; and that is exactly the impression Gen. Oladipo Diya, former Chief of General Staff (CGS), wants to correct.

According to him, despite being second-in-command in government, he did not know that the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, was involved in large-scale plundering of the country's treasury.

In an exclusive interview with The Guardian, post his 65th birthday anniversary, Diya, a legal practitioner and publisher, said:

"I didn't know that Abacha was stealing money. I read about it on the pages of newspapers. I found it difficult to believe that Abacha was stealing money."

On how he could deny knowledge of the plundering spree of the Abacha family and associates, being the second-in-command to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, Diya declared:

"These things (looted funds) being put (published) on the pages of newspapers were not taken from the budget. People said it was being taken from the Reserve Account.

"And up till now, I don't know how money was spent or taken from the Reserve Account and it's not something that was discussed or debated at the level of the Ruling Council. So, how would I have known?"

The Guardian in its edition of Sunday, March 22, published the sordid details of how, among other methods, the Abacha family and associates stole billions both in local and hard currencies from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

However, stressing that he did not know how much Abacha allegedly stole, and that he was not in a position to confirm what really happened; Diya advised that efforts must be made to block the loopholes that encourage such large-scale fraud.

Diya, who reserved his comments on the controversial annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election "for another time," said there was no alternative to democracy.

Noting that there was no comparison between military and democracy, he said the issue was "what can we do to perfect our democratic system? That is what should concern all Nigerians," he said.

"There is no alternative to democracy. But what do we do to sanitise the system and make politics accessible to everybody regardless of your status, regardless of the money you have. It shouldn't be for moneybags; that is the issue."

He also addressed the issue of Yoruba leadership, his estate business, law practice and publication, the Oladipo Diya Educational Foundation and his position in the Christian denomination.

Well then that makes you the dumbest 'Second in Command'.

He has finally confirmed what he is and has been for ages; a coward and king of morons.
I used to like him until now.

.

does it mean all of u here did watch the oputa panel where mustapha made a mess of this foolish diya.
i wonder what these idiots take us for. obj when he had problems with atiku over third term came out to tell nigerians that atiku was a criminal claiming he did not know till then.
well a look at the following names will have a massage to nigerians,

1. obj
2. diya
3. bode george
4. borrishade
5. fani kayode
6. mrs etteh
7. Iyabo obasanjo
8. adedibu

a situation or a people that permits men and women criminals, father and daughter criminals, old and young criminals, literate and illitrate criminals, military and civilian criminals! wow! i guess something is wrong somewhere.

mr.diya shld be celebrating his excape from the shackles of death during the abacha days and not boring nigerians with his weaknesses.

a friend once confirmed to me that his dad (one time head of military police in naij) and his boys helped themselves to stash of foreign currencies stored in diya's house when he was arrested as per the failed coup saga.

The point is where the he get 'em from if he his claiming not to be aware of the high scale looting?

shame on diya

When Abacha was stealing, Diya was planning coup. That is why he doesn't know.

dead man talking

Damn!! Why wont he know what his Boss was up to. (purest lies).
Well, i guess he's only tryin to eraze his name from the black book of ReCOrds.

chidichris:

does it mean all of u here did watch the oputa panel where mustapha made a mess of this foolish diya.
i wonder what these idiots take us for. obj when he had problems with atiku over third term came out to tell nigerians that atiku was a criminal claiming he did not know till then.
well a look at the following names will have a massage to nigerians,

1. obj
2. diya
3. bode george
4. borrishade
5. fani kayode
6. mrs etteh
7. Iyabo obasanjo
8. adedibu

a situation or [/b]a people that permits men and women criminals, father and daughter criminals, old and young criminals, literate and illitrate criminals, military and civilian criminals! wow! i guess something is wrong somewhere[b].

mr.diya shld be celebrating his excape from the shackles of death during the abacha days and not boring nigerians with his weaknesses.

maybe im just being paranoid,but could you clarify the context in whih you r making the comments in bold coupled with only having yoruba names up there as if they are the only criminals in nigeria?if you ask me i think you r pointing to something but ill allow you to clarify yourself

Please watch this space. Diya is about to launch a polictical come back. do you think it is only them that likes good things

Can't forget the Oputa panel when it was revealed Diya sobbed at the feet of Abacha, Diya has no shame.

sleek_p:

Can't forget the Oputa panel when it was revealed Diya sobbed at the feet of Abacha, Diya has no shame.

you no go beg if them one kill you


tpia - take it easy with the yoruba men are useless campaign o

tpia - take it easy with the yoruba men are useless campaign o

You should know by now that the woman is frustrated and disappointed that Yoruba men refused to marry her. Pay no attention to her.

Can't forget  the Oputa panel  when it was revealed Diya sobbed at the feet of Abacha, Diya has no shame.

Nigerians expected him to act like a soldier and face death bravely but my guy wanted to live longer and watch his children grow. Who is smarter now?. Brave soldier wetin. 

Aloy.Emeka:

Nigerians expected him to act like a soldier and face death bravely but my guy wanted to live longer and watch his children grow. Who is smarter now?. Brave soldier wetin.  

Who is Diya going to lead when he already proved his cowardice or don't you know that:
"Cowards die many times before their death" Check the meaning of that saying.

.

Aloy.Emeka:

You should know by now that the woman is frustrated and disappointed that Yoruba men refused to marry her. Pay no attention to her.

Says who eh? I am Mr Tpia so at least she has a man and I'll leave that to you to keep guessing whether I'm Yoruba or not. Only that we've sworn not to reveal our relationship on Nairaland.

Isn't that truth my dear Tpia?

Roflmao!!!

hhhaaa

Mr Tpia:

Says who eh? I am Mr Tpia so at least she has a man and I'll leave that to you to keep guessing whether I'm Yoruba or not. Only that we've sworn not to reveal our relationship on Nairaland.

Isn't that truth my dear Tpia?

you are not well

Mr Tpia:

Says who eh? I am Mr Tpia [b][size=13pt]so at least [/size][/b]she has a man and I'll leave that to you to keep guessing whether I'm Yoruba or not. Only that we've sworn not to reveal our relationship on Nairaland.

The emboldened says it all. poor tpia  

sleek_p:

Can't forget  the Oputa panel  when it was revealed Diya sobbed at the feet of Abacha, Diya has no shame.

Which one be shame again? the guy (abacha) was about to send him to the firing squad. . . he did what he could under the circumstances - cry for his dear life!!!

Which one be shame again? the guy (abacha) was about to send him to the firing squad. . . he did what he could under the circumstances - cry for his dear life!!!

replace abacha with him being kidnapped by the enemy during warfare is that how all Nigerian military secrets will be revealed under pressure. some military officer we have.

@post

Tell that to the dogs!

AT post
mr diya couldnt have known when he was also busy stealing

some people are shameless.