The entire Continental Africa, if not the whole world, is mourning the death of the greatest Statesman of our generations, if not of a century.

I returned home from being a panellist on a programme hosted by DJ Sources of Sources radio UK 96.3 FM and online on Thursday 5 December 2013 at about 22:30, only to be informed of the sad passing of Madiba.

Even though the expectation of his eventual death had for some time been a topic of discussion among many people following his long illness and frailty of late, we still find it shocking and difficult accommodating the news of his passing. One would wish he had lived forever but that wish is not within the designs of God for humanity.

Former President Nelson Mandela (Madiba) was an inspirational icon, a personified solid pillar of democracy to many countries and people of the world, especially, the Africans.

He was selfless, loving, and farsighted and cared about the welfare of both the rich and the poor, especially, the wellbeing of the suffering masses that have been pushed to the fringes of socio-economic existence, segregated from society, and come under inhumane subjugation.

What Madiba stood for is summed up in his expressed view as quoted below. “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

He lived to achieve his purpose in life as we all bear witness to. The world would be a better place to live in if we had several like-minded persons of Nelson Mandela around but we unfortunately have not.

Madiba, your legacy will live on for many generations to come if not forever. A person who gave up power easily when he could have been permitted to rule unto death if he had chosen to. He did not seek power for what he could selfishly acquire as a person but for what he could secure for the better of humankind and society.

He has departed the world a legend of democracy and the true son of the world. He was, and he is still an idol that many will forever look up to and cite when mentioning people of selfless, dynamic and farsighted qualities. He was really a many of cherished integrity.

I hope I had not lost the letter I once received from him in acknowledgment to mine dispatched to him many years ago. Alex, now a current Member of Parliament in Ghana advised me to keep it preciously after reading it and wondered how I could receive such a nice acknowledgment letter from then barely retired President of South Africa, Mr Nelson Mandela?

Let us all join together to mourn the Unifier of people who was colour blind to the skin of individuals but saw everyone as a human being needing equal respect and treatment.

May his soul rest in perfect peace. May he be welcomed into the bosom of God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. I extend my condolences to his wife, children and the entire bereaved family.

Rockson Adofo