Retired four-star General of the Nigerian Army, Domkat Yah Bali, has passed away on Friday, December 4.
Bali served as the Minister of Defence and member of the Supreme Military Council of 1984–1985. He was also a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council of 1985–1990.
He joined the Nigerian Army in 1961 and is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurs.
Bali was joint chief of staff between 1984 and 1985 when President Muhammadu Buhari was head of state.
The octogenarian retired as a decorated military officer in 1990. In December 2010, he emerged as Ponzhi Tarok, paramount ruler of Langtang in Plateau state.
Reacting to his passing, President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, condoled with the people and government of Plateau State.
The president also commiserated with other family members, friends and professional associates of the former member of the Supreme Military Council and Armed Forces Ruling Council.
Bali, a member of Langtang mafia in the Nigerian military in the 80s and 90s, rose through the ranks, with a distinguished military career, reaching the peak as Chief of Defence Staff.
The statement reads;
President Muhammadu Buhari condoles with the people and government of Plateau State over the passing of an illustrious son and highly decorated retired military officer, Gen. Domkat Bali, who served the country as Minister of Defence.
The President, who spoke with the wife of the deceased, Esther on Friday, also commiserated with other family members, friends and professional associates of the former member of the Supreme Military Council and Armed Forces Ruling Council, after rising through the ranks, with a distinguished military career, reaching the peak as Chief of Defence Staff.
President Buhari believes the records of bravery and patriotism of Gen. Bali, the Ponzhi Tarok, will continue to inspire young military officers, while the foundation he laid in all the commands he headed will always be remembered.
The President has also constituted a delegation led by the Minister of Defence, Maj-Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) to visit the family, and condole with government and people of the state over the loss. President Buhari prays that the almighty God will receive the soul of the departed and comfort his family.
May his soul rest in peace.
