The book ‘Witness to History’ authored by Alhaji Lai Mohammed of the ACN was launched amidst fun fare on Monday.

The view from the 14th floor of Britannia International Hotel at the Canary Wharf was pretty impressive. You saw sleek, modern buildings that dotted the skyline and housed some of the biggest banks in the world. You saw names of financial institutions that you had heard and read about.

A famous British actor in the popular sitcom Coronation Street, is rueing the flippant words he uttered in a TV interview recently. He had said in the interview, that whatever happens to us is as a result of our actions either in this world or the previous one. In other words, we deserve whatever we get.

On Monday, Tiger Woods reclaimed the number one spot in golf— a coveted position he had surrendered in early 2010. During his time in the wilderness, he had had to battle the demons that assailed him when he suffered a hip injury, a loss of form and a public demystification which ended in a costly divorce.

On the day that Saudi Arabia announced the beheading of seven men for stealing, Nigeria announced a presidential pardon that included two people who were convicted for stealing.

I often think of Nelson Mandela and Robert Mugabe when thinking of leadership and how a leader’s action or inaction can make or mar a country. Mugabe and Mandela had a similar background; they were pillars in the struggle to liberate their people and suffered untold hardships in the process.

‘I, who used to be addressed as ’Your Honour’ now wish to be addressed as ‘Your Dishonour’. All documents including acquired properties and wealth remain valid’.

How do you recognise a gentleman? He is a lover of peace, the one who promotes harmony and reasonableness in his undertakings.

The room tensed up; breathing momentarily seized and not a few hands flew to cover gaping mouths.

Many years ago, I won’t tell when, I attended the 40th birthday celebration of a close family member.