DID A POLITICIAN who recently gave a fiery media interview on the state of the nation meet with his political godfather beforehand? Well, sources with authoritative knowledge of the goings on tell this column that the outspoken man reportedly met with the supremo and briefed him on the appearance and the hard-hitting approach he planned to take—an approach that was reportedly given the nod. Days before the interview, another soft-spoken official from the MP’s political outfit had appeared on another TV channel's morning show delivering similarly tough sentiments. However, it remains unclear what game plan is afoot, as top voices within the entity continue to send mixed signals.
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CAN’T HE LEARN? That is the question on the lips of associates of a talkative opposition politician, who are increasingly frustrated by his supposed inconsistent, self-inflicted blunders. Associates—including progressive voices and MPs who wish to publicly support his cause—whisper that the man’s open bias toward his ethnic community, and his apparent refusal to assume a national posture, is shaking their confidence. They complain that he can’t claim to represent a different brand of politics if he cannot stop preaching about the interests of one group.
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THE CHAIRMAN of a key committee in Parliament is the talk of both his colleagues and witnesses who appear before him. The colleagues complain that the man is colourless and lacks the gravitas to bring the weight and authority of the panel to bear in pushing for oversight in the public interest. At times, he is reportedly openly protective of witnesses when members fire sharp questions. At other times, he allegedly admonishes members who ask probing questions that put the witnesses in uncomfortable positions. Sources allege that were it not for his godfathers in high places, the man wouldn’t even be a member of the committee.
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STILL IN PARLIAMENT, sources at another panel whisper about discomfort among members over the ease with which the chairman supposedly berates witnesses appearing before the committee. The man, who holds a single degree, is reportedly fond of dismissing individuals with multiple degrees and professors as incompetent, unknowledgeable, and undeserving of their positions. The tough chairman is reputed for holding the powerful to account vigorously, but concerns remain that he often goes overboard, crossing professional lines.
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