By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Former Defence Minister under the military junta of General Ibrahim Babangida, General Domkat Bali, is dead. He died on Friday at the age of 80.
Bali, a member of the fabled 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.
On retirement, he became the traditional ruler of his native town.
In a condolence message to the government and people of Plateau State on Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari described Bali as an illustrious son and highly decorated retired military officer.
“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,” Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, wrote in a statement made available to TheNiche.
Shehu said 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.
“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,” the statement concluded.
Bali as Defence Minister resigned the position in January 1990, when Babangida moved him to another ministry.
Bali, who was born on February 27, 1940 joined the army in 1961.
He had his primary education at Mban, Langtang and from 1955 to 1960, he attended the provincial secondary school at Kuru.
He entered Nigerian Military Training College in 1961 and also attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
In 1964, he became a lieutenant and troop commander.
He 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.
He 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 became the 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 Defence Minister in 1984, he was Commandant of the Nigerian Armed Forces Command and Staff College from 1981 to 1983 and later director of army training and operations.