By Lawal Adenike
Collin Powell, a trailblazing military leader and the first Black US secretary of state, has died from COVID-19 compilations at the age of 84.
His death was announced by his family on Facebook on Monday.
“General Colin L. Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, passed away this morning due to complications from COVID-19,” the Powell family wrote.
However, according to a source familiar with his health status, Powell had multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells that suppress the body’s immune system, even if fully vaccinated against covid-19, those who are immunocompromised are at greater risk from the virus.
Powell’s leadership in several Republican administration helped shape American foreign policy in the last years of the 20th century and the early years of the 21st.
Powell’s death was met with an outpouring of grief from former and current leaders including former vice president, Dick Cheney, who served alongside Powell under president Goerge H.W. Bush.
“I’m deeply saddened to learn that America has lost a leader and statesman. General Powell had a remarkably distinguished career, and I was fortunate to work with him,” Cheney said, adding that Powell was a “trailblazer and role model.”
George H.W. Bush also said in a statement on Monday that Powell was “a great public servant” who was “such a favorite of Presidents that he earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom — twice. He was highly respected at home and abroad. And most important, Colin was a family man and a friend.”
Defense secretary, Llyod Austin also said in remarks that in Powell he “lost a tremendous personal friend and mentor.”
“He always made time for me and I could always go to him with tough issues. He always had great counsel. We will certainly miss him,” Austin said.
Retired Gen. Martin Dempsey, who once served as Obama’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staffs, also mourned the loss of Powell. He wrote in a tweet on Monday that he was “A superb soldier, Statesman and lifelong public servant.”
Tony Blair, former UK prime minister called Powell “a towering figure in America military and political leadership”, adding that he “inspired loyalty and respect”.
