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Ex-defence minister, Domkat Bali, dies at 80

Published

5 years ago

December 5, 2020

He saved Nigeria from genocide – Buhari

A former Minister of Defence, Domkat Bali, has died at the age of 80.

Bali, who died on Friday, was minister of defence and member of the Supreme Military Council between 1984 and 1985, and the Armed Forces Ruling Council of 1985 to 1990.

He 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 the Langtang in Plateau State.

Buhari, in a condolence statement signed by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, described the retired officer as a man with records of bravery and patriotism.

He said Bali’s records would inspire young military officers, adding that his foundation would always be remembered.

“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 statement read.

“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 (retd.) 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.”

President Buhari described him as a loyal soldier who saved Nigeria from genocide.

Bali was loyal to his country and he spent decades in active service proving just that.

Born on February 27, 1940 in Zamko, Langtang, Plateau state, Bali attended elementary schools at Mban and Langtang and the Provincial Secondary School, Kuru, from 1955 to 1960. His military career began when he entered the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna in April 1961. He later attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, England in 1961 and had further military training at the Gunnery Staff Course, Larkhill, UK in 1968; Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, and the Royal College of Defence, Cowdon, UK.

From his military years in service to serving as the Ponzhi Tarok, the paramount ruler of Langtang people, here’s what we can tell of the octogenarian who died on on Friday.

Bali quit the army in January 1990 under not-so-pleasant circumstances. When Ibrahim Babangida reshuffled his cabinet on December 29, 1989, he removed Bali as defence minister and moved him to internal affairs. Bali, however, refused to accept the position and left.

Bali rose from a cadet officer in 1961 to the position of army general before he retired

“To be very frank with you, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is a very important ministry, but that was not my problem. My problem was that as a military officer, I was senior both to Babangida and Buhari, but I served under both as Minister of Defence and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. I could accept that they were heads of state. You cannot remove the fact that I was a senior to both of them. And when Babangida came, he said, ‘ok, you are no longer Chief of Defence Staff, but Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff.’ If I am not that, then I am also junior to all other military people other than the Head of State, which I would not accept,” Bali said in a 2006 interview with TheNEWS.

“I could accept that I was junior to the Head of State but to accept that I was also junior to other junior officers to me, that was unacceptable. That was the main reason that I had to leave. Not because I was made the Minister of Internal Affairs. Some people said it was because I was taking over from John Shagaya who was also a junior officer. Those were not the issues at all.”

In 2011, Bali rejected the national merit award of commander of the federal republic (CFR) given to him by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. Justifying his rejection of the honour, Bali said he had earlier been conferred a higher title, adding that accepting that of the CFR would amount to demoting him.

“It makes no sense to me. I saw the recent national merit award given to me as an insult to my personality. They told me the 2011 honour awarded me is Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR. But the Federal Government of Nigeria gave me in the past a higher national merit honour as Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, which is the second highest national honour in Nigeria. So what this current government offers me in 2011 National Merit Award is inferior to what I have before now,” he said.

“So I said, let them give the CFR to someone else who deserves that. I don’t deserve that because I had a higher one. That was the reason why I refused to attend the programme because my appearance there in Abuja will mean my acceptance to be demoted.”

News

Iran Rules Out Participation in 2026 FIFA World Cup

Published

8 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Iran Rules Out Participation in 2026 FIFA World Cup

Tehran, March 11, 2026 – Iran has officially announced that it will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing security concerns and strained relations with the United States.

The announcement came from Ahmad Donyamali, Iran’s Sports Minister, who said the current circumstances make it impossible for the national team to compete. “Given that this corrupt government has murdered our leader, there are no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” Donyamali stated. “Two wars have been imposed on us in the past eight or nine months, and several thousand of our citizens have been killed. Therefore, we have no chance of participating in this way.”

Iran had qualified for the tournament, which is scheduled to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with group stage matches set in U.S. cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle. The Iranian team was drawn into Group G, alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Iran would have been welcomed to compete, and U.S. authorities confirmed the team would have been allowed entry. However, Iran’s leadership rejected participation, citing ongoing conflict and security concerns.

The withdrawal leaves FIFA with the task of determining how to fill Iran’s spot in the tournament and adjusting the group stage schedule accordingly. Officials are expected to make an announcement in the coming days.

This marks the first time Iran has voluntarily withdrawn from a World Cup after qualifying, highlighting the growing tensions in the region amid recent military and political escalations.

Iran Rules Out Participation in 2026 FIFA World Cup

News

FG Begins Evacuation of Nigerians from Iran, Escorts Citizens to Armenian Border

Published

11 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Trends Admin

FG Begins Evacuation of Nigerians from Iran, Escorts Citizens to Armenian Border

Some Nigerians have been escorted out of Iran by officials of the Federal Government through the Nigerian Embassy in Tehran as part of efforts to ensure their safety amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

This was confirmed by the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri‑Erewa, who disclosed that Nigerian embassy officials are currently coordinating the movement of citizens willing to leave the country.

Dabiri-Erewa explained that the evacuees are being escorted from various locations in Iran to the border with Armenia, where they will await further arrangements for their return to Nigeria.

According to her, the evacuation became necessary following the escalating security situation in the region, which has raised concerns about the safety of foreign nationals, including Nigerians residing in Iran.

FG Begins Evacuation of Nigerians from Iran, Escorts Citizens to Armenian Border

News

Tinubu Orders Nationwide CNG Initiative to Curb Transport Expenses

Published

20 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Tinubu Orders Nationwide CNG Initiative to Curb Transport Expenses

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PiCNG) to immediately deploy 100,000 vehicle conversion kits nationwide, a bold move aimed at easing the burden of rising global fuel prices and promoting compressed natural gas (CNG) as a cheaper, cleaner alternative to petrol.

The directive was issued during a closed-door meeting between the president and PiCNG Executive Chairman Ismaeel Ahmed at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Ahmed disclosed that the president requested updates on the initiative’s progress, particularly regarding measures to cushion Nigerians from the impact of fuel price volatility driven by tensions in the Middle East.

“The president is concerned about the effect of global petroleum price spikes on Nigerians. He has given a direct mandate to immediately deploy about 100,000 CNG conversion kits,” Ahmed said. The kits will allow vehicle owners, including cars and tricycles, to convert petrol engines to run on compressed natural gas, offering an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative.