By Ife Osemedua
The minister of Niger Delta Affairs and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has joined other leaders to pay tribute to the late former President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings, who passed away few days ago.
In a letter to his widow, Senator Akpabio said she should be comforted that in life, she had a “great partner, a Pan Africanist, a global icon, a transformational leader and a humanist as a husband, father and brother.”
According to the former governor, Rawlings’ “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 recalled his encounter with Rawlings and his kind words to him while he was serving as governor in Akwa Ibom State.
“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 and 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.”