The Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, has mourned the death of former President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings, saying the late leader was a global icon.
In a condolence letter to the wife of Rawlings, the former Minority Leader of the Senate, went down memory lane on how the late Africa statesman travelled to Uyo alongside other leaders to commission a project in 2014 when he held sway as Akwa Ibom State governor.
The letter read: “Dear Mrs Rawlings,
“We received the news of the sudden demise of ex-President JJ Rawlings of Ghana here in Nigeria with great shock.
” Please be comforted that in life you had a great partner, a Pan Africanist, a global icon, a transformational leader and a humanist as a husband, father and brother.
“His Leadership style was infectious in and out of offices. He mentored many young leaders beyond the shores of Ghana. He showed how one should love and serve his country beyond self. He will forever be remembered as the father of modern Ghana.
“He loved Africa so much that he boarded a flight from Accra to Uyo in Nigeria to join me in my state alongside other African Leaders such as Presidents (Dr) Goodluck Jonathan-Nigeria; Dr John Mahama Dramani, Ghana; Alassane Quattara of Cote d’ivoire to commission the best International Stadium I bequeathed to West Africa in 2014. At that time I was serving humanity as an Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State one of the states in South South Nigeria.
“He slept over in Uyo and spent enormous energy visiting project sites across the state and thereafter stated that he came to personally confirm the Uncommon Transformation he had heard so much about. Expressing his happiness, he told my people then that the giant strides he witnessed in Akwa Ibom State gave him hope that there was still a future for our continent.
“We shall miss him and his commitment to bettering the lot of the less privileged in your country and elsewhere in Africa. Please accept our condolences and may his soul rest in perfect peace, amen.”
PlatinumPost reports that Jerry Rawlings who led Ghana from 1981 to 2001 and also for a brief period in 1979, died on Thursday 12 November, 2020.
