Staff at a key government institution are amused by the sudden transformation of a senior official who has become unusually friendly after years of being known for a tough management style. Corridors whisper that the change followed rumours of an impending transfer, prompting the boss to suddenly start consulting staff and attending functions previously considered beneath his office. Some employees, however, remain unconvinced, joking that the new warmth may disappear the moment the transfer storm passes.
***
A youthful politician is regretting introducing two of his closest allies to each other after the pair developed a political friendship that has now pushed him to the sidelines. Word has it that the two former rivals have become inseparable and are increasingly making decisions without consulting the person who originally brought them together. Corridors of Power is told the politician has watched helplessly as his former protégés build their own network, leaving him wondering whether he created his own political competitors.
***
The scramble for a coveted political endorsement is reportedly getting interesting after two senior politicians from the same region began quietly courting the same influential elder. Both camps have been sending emissaries with promises of recognition and influence should their preferred candidate prevail. The elder is said to be enjoying the attention while carefully avoiding committing to either side. Those close to him, we are told, will reveal his preferred candidate only when the political stakes are much higher.
***
A leader of a lucrative state agency has become the talk of town over alleged excesses at the agency. The fellow is being accused of running the entity with wanton abandon of the law and procedures. It is alleged that jobs are being handed haphazardly, mostly to cronies and relatives, and procurement rules thrown out of the window. The fellow is said to invoke the names of powers that be when confronted to explain the infractions. The concerned were overheard saying it is only a matter of time before they expose the fellow.
