Diya: I’m too old to join partisan politics

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NIGERIA: EX-CHIEF of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya, has declared that he would not join partisan politics.

But, the man, who was jailed by his erstwhile boss, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, over coup plotting and released later, said that he is a card-carrying member of all the registered political parties.

Diya, who was the number two citizen to Abacha, disclosed this to journalists on Saturday at the inauguration of his education scheme, General Oladipo Diya Public Speaking Competition for Schools in Ogun State held at the Odogbolu Town Hall, Odogbolu, Ogun State.
Diya, a one-time military governor in Ogun State under the military regime of President Muhammadu Buhari,

explained that he would, henceforth, play the role of an elder statesman rather than being actively involved in politics.

The ex-CGS maintained that age was no more on his side for partisan politics, but he didn’t denied the fact that he still has roles to play in nation building.
“No, everybody is a politician, don’t deceive yourself, it is either you are quiet or you are not participant in politics.  But there is no human being that is completely out of politics. All you do is that you remain at the background, you sit and watch and that’s all,” he said.
Diya added: “Now, I’m a grown up person, I prefer to remain in the back seat and watch event from the sideline, when it needs correction or need for you to voice out completely, you say it. When we meet the leaders of our nation, it is not that we just sit down and eat, we deliberate on topical issues.”
Speaking on whether he should be seen as card carrying member of all political parties, following his stand to remain elder statesmen, Diya declared that “yes, say it that way, like our president says I’m for everybody and I’m for nobody.”
Diya was involved in a military coup with some other military officers in a plan to oust Abacha, and was sentenced to death by the military tribunal.
But while he was awaiting death, Abacha died mysteriously, the development which paved the way for his freedom and other coupists.
On his disposition to Abacha’s family today, Diya said that he had since forgiven his former boss and his family.

He added that he thanked God for sparing his life in spite of the ordeal he went through.
His words: “First and foremost we have to realize that we are either Christians or Muslims.  Whatever it is, we believe in one thing, there is saying of God.

“Nobody can arrogate to himself that whatever he does is the will of himself, but the will of our creator and that is our father the Lord.  Whatever anybody might have done, bygone is bygone.” He further stressed: “What is important now is today and the future.  Today, I’m grateful to God because I retired as Lieutenant General.  How many people can rise to the position of Lt. General, to the rank of being a former Vice President, or being the former successful Governor?   I give glory to God and I will continue to thank my creator.”
Diya, who refused to assess Buhari’s administration, said the present federal government should be given a breathing space, as it was too early to assess, having not even spend a year in office.
He said: “Everybody should be patient, this government is new, not even up to a year and they are using four years.  So let us be patient and anything we have to say, let us find a way to say it quietly and responsibly.

“That is the purpose of governance.  Up till today, United States of America has advanced as they are with so many things; United Kingdom the same thing. So we should not relax, we should not rest on our own oars, we should continue to improve and that is the formal.”
Diya, while speaking on his educational program, explained that, “if there is anything we can now contribute to the progress of education in Ogun State, let us do whatever we can do, to improve the standard of education.”

“We just believe that public speaking is an important aspect of education especially in Ogun State and Nigeria in generally,” he said, adding: “That is what involved the introduction of that policy.”

On the standard of education, he said: “Nobody says he is happy, even the Minister of Education knows that we have to do a lot to improve the standard of education. And I know all efforts will be directed towards this direction.”
Diya also said: “When I was there, the standard, even at that time, need improvement and we all acknowledge it.  Even now, the standard needs improvement.  If you ask anybody now, those who finish secondary (school) that have credit in English or Mathematics you will count them by your fingers, so that is the basis of education.”
“If somebody finishes secondary school and his English is poor and his Mathematics is also poor, right from the word go, where they can go is already limited, because without Mathematics and English, you are limited and is not good enough,” the former number two military man said.
Diya also spoke about the ongoing controversial arms deal, saying that those who have the details are already looking into the issue.