Colin Powell: Former US secretary of state die of Covid-19 complications

Di first Black US Secretary of State Colin Powell don die.

Im family wey announce am say e die at di age of 84 from Covid-19 complications.

Oga Powel na former top military officer wey rise to become di first African-American secretary of state for 2001 under Republican George W Bush.

One statement tok say, "We don lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American,"

"We wan thank di medical staff ... for dia caring treatment," e add.

Di statement say e bin don dey fully vaccinated against Covid.

Oga Powell na moderate Republican wey comot from in party to endorse Barack Obama for 2008.

E become trusted military adviser to some leading US politicians.

He dey wounded for Vietnam during service, experience wey later help define im own military and political strategies.

E be highly decorated army officer, and despite im own doubts, e help swing international opinion behind di 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Colin Powell: Early years

Colin Powell come from a humble background to become di first African-American US secretary of state.

Dem born Colin Luther Powell for Harlem, New York City, on 5 April 1937, e be di son of Jamaican immigrants.

Im parents originally pronounce im name wit a short "o" for di traditional English way, but he change di pronunciation to honour one US Army Air Corps pilot, Colin Kelly, wey dey killed shortly afta Pearl Harbor.

According to Powell, im be average scholar wey leave high school wit no positive career plans.

As e dey study geology for di City College of New York, e join di Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), one programme wey dem design to identify future military leaders.

Powell later describe am as one of di happiest experiences of im life.

Afta graduation for 1958, e dey commissioned as second lieutenant for di US Army.

He undergo basic training for Georgia, where dem refuse to serve am for bars and restaurants sake of im skin colour.

For 1962, e be one of di thousands of advisers wey President Kennedy send go South Vietnam to help di local army against threat from di communist North.

Colin Powell dance wit Nigerian musician Olu Maintain on stage

For October 2015, di ex-US Secretary of State Colin Powell bin join Nigerian musician, Olu Maintain on top stage for London to dance and sing in celebration of African culture

Di America former top diplomat bin take di centre stage wit Olu Maintain to gryate wit im hit song that year "Yahoozee."

Determination

For 1987, Powell become national security adviser. Dis na di time wey US dey involved in so-called "dirty wars" for South America.

When George H.W. Bush enta office for 1989, e appoint Powell as Chairman of di Joint Chiefs of Staff, di highest military position for di US Department of Defense.

At 52, e be di youngest officer ever to hold di post, and di first from an African-American background.

E face immediate crisis when di US attack Panama for December 1989, wey comot di dictator, General Noriega, one move wey dey strongly condemned by di United Nations.

Di 1990 Gulf War see di implementation of one strategy wey dey dubbed as di Powell Doctrine.

Essentially, Powell believe say na until all diplomatic, political or economic fail na that time US suppose resort to military force.

However, once dem launch military action, then di maximum force necessary suppose dey deployed to subdue di enemy quickly while minimising US casualties.

Political move

E clash wit di new president on top di issue of allowing gay pipo to join di military and Powell no gree, and e get public disagreement wit Madeleine Albright, di then US ambassador to di UN, over military intervention for Bosnia.

E comot di army for 1993 and devote im time to writing im autobiography - wey top di New York Times best-seller list - plus e engage for charity work.

Since e no be military officer again, e begin chook himself inside politics.

E get time wey pipo tok say e dey stand against Bill Clinton for di 1996 presidential election, but Powell decide say im lack di passion for a political career.

For 2000, George W Bush appoint Powell as secretary of state, di post responsible for US relationships wit foreign countries.

Tributes

George W Bush dey among di first to pay tribute to "a great public servant" as well as "a family man and a friend" who "was such a favourite of presidents wey e earn di Presidential Medal of Freedom - twice".

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair - wey work closely wit Powell during di early years of the Iraq War - say e be pesin of "immense capability and integrity" who be "great companion, wit a lovely and self-deprecating sense of humour".