A leader of leaders, a titan amongst world statesman, a wonderful humanitarian and the most compassionate and caring of individuals. Kofi Annan will be sorely missed.
-Gordon and Sarah Brown
By Shola Oshunkeye
World leaders have been mourning the death, Saturday, of the former Secretary General of the United Nations, UN, Kofi Annan, paying glowing tribute to the diplomat’s sterling attributes and phenomenal achievements in international diplomacy and global peace.
Annan died at 80 in a Swiss village of Bern in the early hours of Saturday.
Since the news broke, world leaders have either taken to Twitter or press statements to pour encomiums on the Ghana-born African diplomat.
Annan, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, was the seventh Secretary General of the global body, and the first Black occupant of the exalted position.
In the 10 years he held sway as Secretary General, Annan endeared himself to the world as the most universally acclaimed diplomat, who steered the ship of the United Nations with deep insight, dignity and rare statesmanship in a volatile decade signposted by wars and terrorism.
President Muhammadu Buhari, according to Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, commiserated with the government and people of Ghana over the diplomat’s passing, through a phone call from London where he has been on vacation.
Buhari, during the call, said all Nigerians and, indeed, all ECOWAS member countries, share in the deep loss, “considering the strategic influence of the former scribe in global affairs and his vision for the repositioning of the West Coast and Africa.”
“As the first elected staff of the United Nations to lead the world organisation, and first African to win the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the United Nations, the President noted that Annan’s humility, nobility and love for humanity set him apart for global greatness, achieving recognition and commendation for the reform of the United Nations’ bureaucracy and multiple interventions to bring peace to the world.”
Buhari said though Annan’s origin and home will always be traced to Ghana, his exceptional leadership roles, humanitarian spirit and contributions to global peace and development will remain indelible in the history of the entire world, especially the efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa and launch of the UN Global Compact.
In his tweeted tribute South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (@CyrilRamaphosa), said: “The news of former United Nations Secretary General Mr. @KofiAnnan’s death comes as a great shock to us as we were with him only a few weeks ago when he visited South Africa. It is indeed a great loss to us and to the global community.”
During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Kofi Annan was a thorn in the flesh of then British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and then President of the United States, George Bush. Annan, as Secretary General, mounted stiff opposition to the invasion which both US and UK built on a purported accumulation of weapons of mass destruction.
Despite his stiff opposition, Annan could not prevent the war which he regarded as illegal. In later reflections, he described his failure to halt the war as the “darkest moment” of his 10-year tenure in office.
Despite their differences, Tony Blair and Kofi Annan remained good friends till the latter died on Saturday. In his statement, Blair said: “I’m shocked and distressed to hear the news about Kofi. He was a good friend whom I saw only weeks ago.
“Kofi Annan was a great diplomat, a true statesman and a wonderful colleague who was widely respected and will be greatly missed.”
Blair’s successor, Gordon Brown, currently the UN special envoy for global education, recalled that the departed former UN scribe fought, throughout his life, against poverty, injustice and war; and eulogised him in superlative terms.
“Kofi Annan was a leader of leaders, a wonderful humanitarian and the most compassionate and caring of individuals,” Gordon said.
“Personally modest and always softly spoken, he was a titan amongst world statesman who saw wrong and righted it and who witnessed evil and always fought it.”
In a statement he issued on the sad loss, former US President Barack Obama described Kofi Annan as “a diplomat and humanitarian who embodied the mission of the United Nations like few others.”
The incumbent Secretary General, António Guterres, took to his Twitter handle (@antonioguterres) to eulogise his predecessor, saying: “Kofi Annan was a guiding force for good. I join the world in mourning his loss. In these turbulent and trying times, his legacy as a global champion for peace will remain a true inspiration for us all.”
British Prime Minister, Theresa May tweeted (@theresa_may) that she was “Sad to hear of the death of Kofi Annan. A great leader and reformer of the UN, he made a huge contribution to making the world he has left a better place than the one he was born into. My thoughts and condolences are with his family.”
In a statement, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel said: “Kofi Annan inspired me and many others with his ideas, his upright beliefs, and, not in the least, his charisma.”
The 14th and current Prime Minister of India since 2014, Mr. Narendra Modi, wrote: “We express our profound sorrow at the passing away of Nobel Laureate and former UNSG Mr. Kofi Annan. The world has lost not only a great African diplomat and humanitarian but also a conscience keeper of international peace and security.”
In his tweet, Justin Trudeau, current Prime Minister of Canada since 2015, also son of a four-term Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, said: “Kofi Annan didn’t just talk about building a more just and peaceful world, he dedicated his life to doing it – and the world is a better place because of him. It’s now up to all of us to carry his work forward.”
In his latter years, Kofi Annan was the chairman of The Elders. The Elders is an independent group of global leaders working for peace and human rights. It was founded by the legendary Nelson Mandela. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former prime minister of Norway, is the body’s deputy chairperson.
Brundtland said she and her colleagues were devastated by Annan’s shocking passing, and declared: “Kofi was a strong and inspiring presence to us all, and The Elders would not be where it is today without his leadership. Throughout his life, Kofi worked unceasingly to improve the lives of millions of people around the world.”
Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Kumi Naidoo, was not left out. He regretted that death had robbed the world of a great leader, and added: “Kofi’s dedication and drive for a more peaceful and just world, his lifelong championing of human rights, and the dignity and grace with which he led will be sorely missed in a world which needs these characteristics more than ever.”
Born in on April 8, 1938 in Kumasi, Ghana’s gold-rich second biggest city, Annan was the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, having served from January 1997 to December 2006. The Ghanaian diplomat and the United Nations were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.
ghout his life, Kofi worked unceasingly to improve the lives of millions of people around the world.”
Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Kumi Naidoo, was not left out. He regretted that death had robbed the world of a great leader, and added: “Kofi’s dedication and drive for a more peaceful and just world, his lifelong championing of human rights, and the dignity and grace with which he led will be sorely missed in a world which needs these characteristics more than ever.”
Born in on April 8, 1938 in Kumasi, Ghana’s gold-rich second biggest city, Annan was the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, having served from January 1997 to December 2006. The Ghanaian diplomat and the United Nations were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.
