Domkat Bali

General Domkat Bali
Minister of Defence
In office 1 January 1984 – August 1990
Preceded by	Akanbi Oniyangi
Succeeded by	Sani Abacha
Chief of Defence Staff
In office 1 January 1984 – August 1990
Preceded by	Gibson Jalo
Succeeded by	Sani Abacha
General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Lagos
In office January 1978 – December 1979
Preceded by	Brig. M.I. Wushishi
Succeeded by	Brig. M. Buhari
Personal details
Born	Domkat Yah Bali 27 February 1940 Langtang, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Plateau State, Nigeria)
Died	4 December 2020(2020-12-04) (aged 80)
Alma mater	Nigerian Military Training College Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Military service
Allegiance	Nigeria
Branch/service	Nigerian Army
Years of service	1961–1990
Rank	General

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.[3]

He resigned from public service in January 1990.[4][5] 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.[6]

References

1. Armed Forces Ruling Council (Nigeria) (1992) [1990]. Profiles of Members of the Armed Forces Ruling Council. Federal Ministry of Information & Culture. p. 13.
2. "Past Commandants". Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
3. "Domkat Bali (1940 – 2020)". The Nation. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
4. "Nigerian Military Chief Postpones Visit to U.S." The New York Times. 11 January 1990.
5. Onanuga, Bayo (4 December 2020). "Domkat Bali, the General who broke taboo in Nigeria's military". P.M. News. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
6. Ibrahim, El-ameen (5 December 2020). "Former Defence Minister Domkat Bali dies at 80". Premium Times. Retrieved 29 August 2024.