Domkat Bali Explained

Domkat Bali
Honorific Prefix:General
Office1:Minister of Defence
Term Start1:1 January 1984
Term End1:August 1990
Predecessor1:Akanbi Oniyangi
Successor1:Sani Abacha
Office2:Chief of Defence Staff
Term Start2:1 January 1984
Term End2:August 1990
Predecessor2:Gibson Jalo
Successor2:Sani Abacha
Office3:General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Lagos
Term Start3:January 1978
Term End3:December 1979
Predecessor3:Brig. M.I. Wushishi
Successor3:Brig. M. Buhari
Allegiance: Nigeria
Branch: Nigerian Army
Serviceyears:1961–1990
Alma Mater:Nigerian Military Training College
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Rank: General
Birth Name:Domkat Yah Bali
Birth Date:27 February 1940
Birth Place:Langtang, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Plateau State, Nigeria)

Domkat Yah Bali (27 February 1940 – 4 December 2020) was a Nigerian army four-star general, who was Minister of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff from 1984 to 1990, and a member of the Supreme Military Council of 1984–1985, and the Armed Forces Ruling Council of 1985–1990.

Early life and education

Bali was born in Langtang, Plateau State to the family of Hassan Bali Tabut and Yinkat Bali. He had his primary education at Mban, Langtang and from 1955 to 1960, attended the provincial secondary school at Kuru.

He attended Nigerian Military Training College from April to August 1961. From December 1961 to December 1963, he attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, earning his commission as a lieutenant in 1964.[1]

Career

Bali became captain a year later in 1965. In 1966, he was battery commander and during the Nigerian Civil War, he was a regimental commander. He was made major in 1968. Between 1970 and 1971, Bali was commander, Corps of Artillery and later became a colonel at the Second Infantry Division in Ibadan. In 1973, he was posted to Akure as the commander of the 9th Infantry Brigade, he was adjutant general Nigerian army in 1975, commander Corps of Artillery in 1976 and in 1978, he was the GOC of the First Infantry Division, Kaduna. Prior to becoming Defense Minister in 1984, he was Commandant of the Nigerian Armed Forces Command and Staff College from 1981 to 1983[2] and later director of army training and operations.

He resigned from public service in January 1990.[3] [4] He was the Chairman of HFP Engineering, builders of Victoria Garden City, Lagos Nigeria.

In December, 2010, he was selected by the Tarok kingmakers headed by the Madakin Langtang, HRH Daniel Lamda Bongtur to succeed the Lt. Hrm. Edward Cirdap Zhattau(oon.) as the Ponzhi Tarok, the paramount ruler of the Tarok people of plateau state. He was married to Esther Bali an educationist and they have two children, Nanna and Ponfa.

Death

Bali died on 4 December 2020.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Armed Forces Ruling Council (Nigeria) . Profiles of Members of the Armed Forces Ruling Council . Federal Ministry of Information & Culture, 1992 . 13.
  2. Web site: Past Commandants. Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji. 20 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160301052946/http://www.nigerianafcsc.org/site/acfmdispx.php?id=45. 1 March 2016. dead.
  3. Web site: AP . Nigerian Military Chief Postpones Visit to U.S. . New York Times . 29 January 2021.
  4. Web site: Domkat Bali, the General who broke taboo in Nigeria’s military . PM News Nigeria . 29 January 2021.
  5. Web site: Ibrahim . El-ameen . Former Defence Minister Domkat Bali dies at 80 . Premium Times . 29 January 2021.