When Jerry John Rawlings died in November 2020, all of the stories of his life as both a military leader, arguably the most charismatic leader of Ghana since independence, and the private memories of his days on earth came to light.
From people telling their own stories of personal encounters with him, to the wildest telltales of what he did or did not do, one of the stories that is still a mystery is the one about the former Head of State’s love for animals.
Without a doubt, Rawlings loved to fly and was a disciplinarian to a fault, but his love for animals, too, became a new revelation to many in his death.
One of those animals had a weird name: Lucifer.
The ‘Lucifer’ encounter
For late former president, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, it is said he was a staunch lover of a combination of nature and animals.
This love for animals and pets has been attested to by close persons to the former first family.
Legend has it that while the young Jerry Rawlings was in senior high school, he was one of only two people who could successfully ride a rather notorious horse.
The horse, which was named ‘Lucifer,’ was said to have been ridden without a brass – this meant riders of Lucifer were left to their own fate as it would not allow any form of protection on its back.
According to Alex Segbefia, a former Minister of Health and former student of the Achimota School where Jerry Rawlings had his secondary education, only ‘geniuses’ could mount and ride Lucifer as it was one “hell of a horse” to gain control over, yet the late former president is said to have done that with ease.
JJ Rawlings is also reported to have occasionally ridden a horse belonging to the former Libyan president, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, called ‘Juda, ‘while he was on a visit to the country.
AE
