A TRIBUTE IN MEMORY OF LATE PRESIDENT JERRY J RAWLINGS OF GHANA

"I am still in shock and lost for words at this huge, terrible and bone-crushing loss of not just a close family friend and true mentor but the greatest senior brother albeit from another country, Ghana"... Dr. MAO.

"JJR ran a very good race and has done what can never be erased from the sands of time". 

Usually, it is the death of a very close blood relative that invokes in most people such a deep sense of loss and grief beyond imagination. However, the loss of an individual whose unique life has helped in  defining what God truly created us for in this sinful world changes the final narratives. 

Accordingly, I, Dr. Makanjuola A. Owolabi (Dr. MAO), am still in shock and lost for words at this huge, terrible and bone-crushing loss of not just a close family friend and true mentor but the greatest senior brother albeit from another country, Ghana. As long as we are Africans with integrity, we truly remain African brothers as mentors and mentees.

Our lives  have taught us to love each other with passion and never to be unfaithful to our Godly principles. 

Most people may not know the depth of their relationship with  God Almighty but I am proud to say that you have really loved the Lord whenever you love others particularly when you focus on mutually beneficial goals whether by reason of friendship or family based relationship.

On Thursday, 12th November 2020, about twenty days after giving his loving mother a befitting State burial in Ghana, the sad news broke of the sudden death of my brother, greatest friend and mentor, Past President Jerry John Rawlings (JJR) of Ghana. What a heartbreaking piece of news!

JJR ran a very good race and has done what can never be erased from the sands of time. 

On behalf of the saddened citizens of our beloved Ghana and, indeed, Africa, I and our mutual friend, Capt Ibrahim Mshelia (Founder of Mish Aviation Flying School in Ghana and West Link Airlines in Nigeria) as well as our two great families wish to thank Almighty God for allowing us to know you JJR and to be associated with you as one of the greatest great African icons. It was, indeed, an eternally great honor and privilege to meet and relate with you, JJR. 

Although you did not achieve all that you desired for the people of Ghana specifically and Africa in general, no other living African has come a fraction close to your achievements and legacies.

With your sudden home call, you did not leave us helpless. You have challenged us to build on your enduring legacies and remind ourselves of your last Remarks made at Ado Ekiti in Nigeria while you came to celebrate my birthday on 8th August 2017 and gave your incredible Remarks as the Special Guest of Honour during my Guest Lecture on “Leadership with Character”  delivered for the University of Ibadan Alumni Association ( Ekiti State Branch).

You  have challenged us to wake up and pick the baton of Leadership from where you and South Africa’s President Nelson Mandela dropped it and continue the race for the realization of the African dream.

Our late President JJR, we promise you that we will try to carry on with  your dreams until we ourselves breathe our last on this side of eternity.

Good Night, my mentor, benefactor, friend and leader, late Past President Jerry John Rawlings of Ghana.