Top military officers mourn as ex-COAS, Chris Alli passes at 79

One of Nigeria’s most decorated, principled and respected military officers, Major General Mohammed Christopher Alli (rtd), yesterday, passed on at the age 79.

The former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Military Administrator of Plateau State died after a brief illness at the Military Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.

Until he breathed his last, he was a committed member of The Guardian Editorial Board; always attending and shaping thoughts at the weekly meeting of minds in Rutam House, Isolo, Lagos.

His demise has also thrown the Nigerian Armed Forces community into mourning. Retired military generals were unanimous that General Alli was a truly detribalised soldier till the end.

General Alli served as COAS between November 1993 to August 1994 under General Sani Abacha as Head of State – during the turbulent days of June 12 struggle to actualise the mandate of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. Alli’s principled position and against the whims of Abacha led to his sack and early retirement from the Army.

A much-decorated officer, he received professional training at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Warminster in the United Kingdom; in Pakistan and the National Defence College of India.

Alli saw action as a Battalion Commander during the Nigerian Civil War. As an officer, he held various appointments at Infantry and Brigade levels. Later, he became Nigeria’s Defence Attache to Zimbabwe; Director of Military Intelligence (DMI) and General Officer Commanding (GOC), One Mechanised Division, Nigerian Army.

On February 13, 1976, when Army coup plotters led by Colonel Bukar Dimka assassinated the then Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, Alli was investigated for involvement in the coup attempt, but was exonerated.

A one-time Military Administrator of Plateau State under General Ibrahim Babangida (1985-86), General Alli was the officer who rose to the occasion in 1990 as Commander, 3rd Infantry Brigade, Nigerian Army, Kano, who made a counter-broadcast in the wake of the Gideon Orkar coup that was to topple General Babangida and balkanise Nigeria. He also instructed several Army commanders to make the same counter-broadcasts.

Alli was redrafted to Plateau State as Administrator by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2004, when the State was engulfed in intractable ethno-religious killings in Shendam, Yelwa Local Government under former Governor Joshua Dariye and the federal government declared emergency rule, suspending the Governor and State House of Assembly.

General Alli developed the Plateau Peace Programme involving dialogue between religious, ethnic and community leaders and a statewide peace conference, giving amnesty to holders of weapons and a reward for their turning in their arms. Alli’s measures were successful in calming the situation, and he handed power back to the civilian government in November 2004.

On retirement, an anthology was organised as a symposium on General Alli’s work with title: ‘The Federal Republic of Nigerian Army: The Siege of a Nation,” in 2017.  Maduako Dukor, a Professor of Philosophy, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), commented on the book, saying: “Alli is identified as one of those critical and rational thinkers, philosophers, albeit, a General in the Nigerian Army whose work finds a befitting logical space in the contemporary African philosophical tapestry.”

On his pulling out parade following his retirement, General Alli described the Nigerian Army as one of “anything is possible.”

In January 2020, he said in an interview: “I am ready to die for the unity of Nigeria for which I fought for three years.”

He surmised that we had to fight the last war because the country was led by young officers whose maturity was not sufficient to resolve the issues at stake by other means.

General Alli also explained his principled stance on the June 12 crisis, saying: “I didn’t know M.K.O in any way. I was just doing my job and believed that soldiers should not be in politics and that a man who won an election should be allowed to govern the country.

“I heard things like Nigeria was owing Abiola and I asked if he was not entitled to what he was owed if he did not win the election. And are people Nigeria did not owe freely taking money from the country?”

He was convinced that the involvement of soldiers in politics had destroyed the Army. “The continued stay of the Army in politics was affecting us negatively. It was no longer well equipped because of fear of coups by those in power. We already became an Army of politicians. It got so bad that the civil populace started throwing stones at soldiers. My convoy was once stoned on my way to the Airport. It was that horrible.”

Former naval spokesman, Rear Admiral Obiora Medani (Rtd), yesterday labelled his demise a sad news, describing Alli as truly detribalised Nigerian.

Another former spokesman of the Navy, Commodore Aliu, commiserated with the family on the demise of “an illustrious son, a brave senior officer, an intellectual and a nationalist. May God comfort members of his family and give them the fortitude to bear the sad loss.”

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Dambazau said: “My heartfelt condolences to the family. A big loss to the country and the military in particular.”

According to former naval spokesman, Rear Admiral Christopher Babalola, “General Chris Ali was one of the finest officers produced by the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Cerebral, highly professional, humane, charismatic, courageous, principled and highly respected senior Officer and Gentleman.

“His decision to confront the Abacha junta during the NADECO problems instead of a comfortable seat in the corridors of power led to his premature retirement but this did no damage to his person. No wonder, he was appointed Administrator of Plateau State by President Obasanjo. Nigeria has indeed lost an icon. Good night, General Chris Ali.”

Also, The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has expressed heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Nigerian Army (NA), on the passing of former COAS, Major General Mohammed Chris Alli (Rtd).

According to a statement by army spokesman, Brig. General Onyema Nwachukwu, “The former Army Chief succumbed to a brief illness in the early hours of today, Sunday 19 November, 2023 at the Military Hospital, Lagos.

“Major General Alli (rtd), a revered senior officer, served the Nigerian Army, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the nation with honour and dedication in various capacities, leaving enduring prints on the sands of time.

“His commitment and zeal to duty manifested evidently, as he rose through the ranks to become the Director Military Intelligence (DMI), amongst several other key appointments in the Nigerian Army, climaxing his military career as the 9th COAS in November 1993, until his meritorious retirement from active service in August 1994.
“The COAS Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja on receiving the disheartening news of his demise, has profoundly expressed his condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the Late former COAS, praying for the repose of his soul and the strength and solace for the family in this difficult time.”

Born on Christmas Day in 1944, Alli had his primary education in Onitsha and later passed out of Metropolitan College, Onitsha, in 1962 with a first division in the West African School Certificate (WAEC). He moved to Kaduna and secured a job as a Laboratory Assistant with Kirkpatrick and Partners.

His move into the Army came in 1967 when the civil war started and, tired of guard duties at the Air Force, he applied for a Short Service Commission. Alli was admitted. He completed the six-month Officer Cadet training at the NDA in October 1967 and fought in the Nigeria-Biafra war. The 56 officers commissioned include former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

According to the former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Alison Madueke (Rtd), “General MC Alli, GCON was a Gentleman Officer of high caliber. Very Cerebral and articulate. He always had the courage to say things the way he saw them, not minding whose Ox was gored.

“He was an exceptional Chief of the Army Staff and a forthright and reliable friend and Comrade in arms. My heart goes out to his Family. May His Brave Soul Rest In Perfect Peace.”