IT is a matter of fact that the great statesman is gone, and gone also with all his attributes recognized throughout the world. Never in African history has such array of dignitaries (including 91 Heads of governments) ever assembled in African soil to honour a departed soul. The other great African, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana became dictatorial in his last days before he was ousted in a coup organized by his country’s military adventurers.

Last minute changes in space allocation killed this column last week. I serve it today. But let me briefly touch on two things that happened after that.

THOSE of us who declared the National Dialogue soon to be convened by President Goodluck Jonathan as a jamboree might be justified after all. The Monday, December 9, 2013 issue of Vanguard gave an insight into what we are to expect in the coming few weeks.

When SKYNEWS interrupted programming last Thursday night to bring a live event, and I saw South African President, Jacob Zuma appear on screen, the journalist in me instinctively guessed that Nelson Mandela had passed. A moment later the fact was confirmed.

WE still remember the old prayer point: When we were born, we cried and people rejoiced. Our lives should be such that at the point of departure, people should cry while we rejoice into eternity.

TIME was about 10:30 pm Nigerian time and the BBC’s Hard Talk was on the screen on this dark night of December 5, 2013. I had only minutes before finished writing my original copy for the column this week.

Following the meeting with party leaders and PDP governors as well as two former PDP governors who re-affirmed their full and final defection, President Goodluck Jonathan was reported to have summoned an emergency meeting of top guns of the party on Monday night.

TWENTY years ago, on 26th December, 1993, I was cornered by armed-robbers on the way from Murtala Mohammed airport in Lagos. When I slammed into a lamppost trying to escape from them, I heard a “still, small voice” which said: “Femi, nothing is going to happen to you here.” Thereafter, I was shot in the leg. Nevertheless, the voice insisted: “There is nothing wrong with your leg.”

My colleague and I had to forcefully dispossess our wallets of some $64.95 to watch the fight between pound-for-pound pugilist, Floyd Mayweather and Mexican boxing icon, Canelo Alvarez on the night of September 14, 2013.

I know some brilliant and dedicated lecturers in several universities who have been in the same academic position for over a decade, whereas their less knowledgeable colleagues are promoted rapidly because the latter have godfathers and are able to play dirty sleight of hand academic politics that elevates mediocrity above meritocracy.