General Chris Ali, Former COAS Dies

By Adesina Soyooye

A former Chief of Army Staff, the urbane Major General Chris Alli, is dead.

He died in the morning of Sunday, November 19, 2023.

His devastated Community, Ohiku Egbira, Kogi State,  in an announcement by the Ohiku Egbira Development Union, OEDU, said: “Just this morning, OEDU received the sad and shocking news of the passing on of Ohiku illustrious son, Soldier of Soldiers and Statesman, former Chief of Army Staff, General Mohammed Chris Alli(Rtd)GCON,MoH, Ndc,CRG,(H)Msc(H),OSEZE OGBANYI of EGBIRA NATION.

“Until his demise, he was not only a strong pillar of Ohiku Egbira Mission, he was Chairman, OEDU Board of Trustees.

“Let us remember him in our prayers and reach out to his immediate family for condolences while waiting for the burial arrangements.

“May his soul rest in the blossom of the Lord. Ameen.”

Born in December, 1944, Major General Alli was, from 1993 to 1994, the Chief of Army Staff under the late General Sani Abacha regime. Alli was, also, the Interim Administrator, Plateau State,  following the ethno-religious killings in Shendam, Yelwa Local Government in 2004 when  Government of President Olusegun Obasanjo removed then Governor Joshua Dariye from Office.

Long before then, he was the Military Governor of Plateau State from August 1983 to 1986 under the General Ibrahim Babangida regime.

On retirement, Major General Alli authored a book entitled: “The Federal Republic of Nigerian Army: The Siege of a Nation.”

A very well read and polished Army Officer, until his death, Major General Chris Alli was a member of The Guardian Editorial Board.