DID A TOP opposition
figure—reputed for fiery public stances—quietly reach out to the government to
get her daughter into the Foreign Service? Insiders say that despite her harsh
anti-government rhetoric, the politician with considerable name recognition
recently tried to allegedly
secure an ambassadorial post for her daughter through heavy but quiet lobbying.
When that failed, she only turned up the heat on the government with sharpened
attacks, and is now demanding the President’s impeachment. Those in the know reportedly say it’s the same old
political elite, lying to the public while secretly being part and parcel of
the same old order of nepotism, tribalism and outright corruption.
***
IS IT TRULY worth the cost? That’s
the quiet question lingering among those close to a well-known public figure,
recognised as much for his flamboyant gestures as for his advocacy. Some of his
associates whisper that he often goes to unusual lengths to attract media
headlines and donor goodwill—moves they claim are driven more by personal
ambition than collective purpose.
***
WHISPERS IN GOVERNMENT corridors
suggest trouble in one of the most lucrative ministries. The Cabinet Secretary
has been quietly sidelined to ribbon-cutting and photo ops, while the real
power is wielded by his technocrat principal secretary. Critics say the
minister has become a ceremonial figure, with major decisions made behind
closed doors, mostly without his input. His political allies complain he has done
little to uplift his region despite holding a prized portfolio, and speculate
his political capital is dwindling so fast he may be on borrowed time.
***
IS A LAWMAKER exploiting
his vulnerable constituents for personal gain? Word is that an MP—no stranger
to scandal—is at the centre of jaw-dropping
whispers after a struggling mother and her daughter separately sought help from his office and
reportedly received more than they
bargained for. This column learnt
that the politico, from a restive region, may have allegedly preyed on the two
women’s desperation, raising serious questions about abuse of office. While
the MP may feign innocence, talk is swirling fast in his backyard—not just
about his questionable ethics, but about how long he can brave the rising heat.
