Veteran Nollywood actor Chief Pete Edochie has paid tribute to former Ghanaian President Jerry John Rawlings, who died on November 12, 2020, aged 73.
Recalling their friendship, Chief Edochie described the late statesman as a “brother”, citing their striking physical resemblance and the fact that they were born in the same year.
According to the veteran actor who is in Ghana for the Accra Legacy Week, he and Mr Rawlings spent time together during a previous visit and discussed several issues, with the former president promising to visit Nigeria.
“I tell you the truth, I’m sad. You know, the last time I was in Ghana, I visited him. We had a very good time together. We discussed extensively, and he promised me he was going to come to Nigeria. When I got to Nigeria, a lot of people had seen the photograph of the two of us, and they were telling me, look, this man is your brother, actually. I was born in March of 1947. He was born in June. We were born three months apart,” he said.
Mr Edochie, in expressing his sadness at the death of the former President in 2020, said he initially struggled to believe the reports he received from Ghana.
“When I heard that the mother had died, I phoned Ghana and the person I got was telling me that Rawlings had died. I said, you’re mad,” he recounted.
“When people came to interview me for my comments on him, I said, well, I lost a brother, but okay, that’s the way God wants it.”
Mr Edochie said returning to Ghana and knowing that he would not see his friend again had been difficult.
“So, you know, coming to Ghana and knowing I will not see my friend Rawlings is… I don’t know. Well, I tried to cope with it,” he said.
He added that he hoped to visit Mr Rawlings’ grave during his stay in Ghana to pay his respects.
“If I have time, depending on my producer, I would like to go to his grave. I want to pay some respect to him when I go to his grave,” he said.
Mr Edochie is in Ghana as part of the Legacy Project at the Accra Legacy Week, which seeks to celebrate his contributions to African cinema, storytelling and culture while preserving his experiences for future generations.
He is in the country alongside several other legendary Nigerian actors and actresses, including Destiny Etiko, Mike Ezuruonye, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Francis Odega and Patience Ozokwor.
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