SINMI DIYA Talks About His Late Dad, Gen. DIYA

+What He Will Miss About Him

He is the first child of late Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya who died a few months ago, March 26, 2023 to be precise. Barrister Sinmi Diya is perhaps the most popular of Gen. Diya’s children.  A very disciplined gentleman like his father, Sinmi has proven that he can carry the mantle of the leadership of the Diya family and lead his siblings to sustain the humongous legacies of their late hugely respected and accomplished father. Lt. Gen. Oladipo Dipo was a distinguished soldier, a man who shone like a million stars from amongst his peers during his illustrious military career. He was not just a great soldier, he was a fantastic dad as well. His children and members of his extended family spoke glowingly of his unique attributes and unwavering love for his family.

His very brilliant son, Sinmi, spoke to City People Senior Editor, WALE LAWAL (08037209290) about those very difficult and harrowing moments their late father was arrested on allegations of trying to overthrow the government. “It was a very difficult period for the family but we were able to pull through and stay together with God by our side,” he said. He also paid glowing tribute to his dad at the Service of Songs and Night of Tributes organised in honour of his father. It was a classy event that had in attendance the governor of Lagos state, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and several prominent Nigerians as well as accomplished military officers which included several retired generals who were contemporaries of General Diya.

Sinmi also spoke about the things he learnt from his father and how he consistently taught them to be God fearing and humble. Here are excerpts from the interview.

A lot has been said about your iconic father, what were those things about him that stood out for you?

A lot of things. He was a man that sacrificed his entire life to the service of the nation. He was a pioneer student of Odogbolu Grammar School. He was a pioneer Labour Prefect. He was among the first set of military officers that were made in Nigeria.They call them the Regular One Nigerian Defence Academy products. I think about 62 or 66 of them were chosen then and only about half of them returned after the war. He was also part of the pioneer set that started the Air borne brigade because that was one deficit they found out during the civil war, that there’s a unit that needs to be produced. Flying through the air and jumping down into Enemy lines or beyond Enemy lines, parachuting and para jumping. He was among the first set of Nigeria military officers that were sent for the training and he was among the first set to get that badge, the air borne badge. And to the glory of God, he commanded the first brigade that established that unit. Later on, he became a governor.

So, in a nutshell, I have given a brief history of his career. But the main thing about him is that he was a family man. He was a loving man and he didn’t joke with a education. He took education very personal. If you come before him and you’re not showing any sign of seriousness or sign that you want to be educated, you’re just wasting your time. He loved education with all his heart and he was ready to support with whatever resources he had. And that was what led him to establishing Diya Foundation to take care of those who are in need of support for their education. And we as a family, we intend to continue that legacy. We already have someone in charge of the foundation at the moment, one way or the other, I will be the Supervisory Head of all his legacies, all the things he stood for, and his beliefs. He was a God fearing man. He taught us one thing, and that thing he kept on instilling in us, that we should fear God. He said when you fear God and you believe in him, that no matter the obstacles that come your way, God in his infinite mercy will help you to overcome those problems.

So, those were the things about him that stood out. He was a jovial man. He had a great sense of humour. He was very funny, down-to-earth, very disciplined. He was regimented in his ways and he just poured in that regimentary life into each and every one of us which has helped us shapen our lives.

During those difficult moments of his trial days, what kept the family together?

It was just God. It was just our believe and faith in God. We knew God would vindicate him. And he came back alive. I remember when I used to go see during the incarceration period, there was one thing he was always asking me, have you seen Pastor Adeboye? Have you seen Pastor Tunde Bakare? Have you seen Bishop Bonigi? He wasn’t sending me to go and see one babalawo or some strange person, he was sending me to see men of God. Have you seen Cardinal Okogie? Have you seen Arch Bishop Adetiloye? These were things that inspired us, that he just held onto God.

Apart from the fear of God that he instilled in all of his children, what would you say are the three major things that you have learnt from him and you have held very dear to you to this day?

Humility. You must be content. You must be humble and you must have respect for elders.

Your sisters said your dad handled his daughters like egg shells but was much firmer with the boys, what would you say was the reason for this?

My dad knew the boys were going to be much more difficult, so he handled us with iron fists. But for the girls, he had to be soft on them because he didn’t want that to reflect in their marriages. He didn’t want them to carry those scars into their marriages. But for the boys, he simply wanted to instil some discipline in them.