SATURDAY
L
T
o this end, he has set up a ‘high powered committee’ (to be inaugurated no less) to ‘address the ugly trend’. The committee is tasked with the responsibility of finding a permanent solution to rumour mongering (huh?) and would also be responsible for fishing out and prosecuting people responsible for ‘peddling wicked rumours round the
Serving the public state’. (Read GESTAPO!!!)It is reported that Bayelsa State has lately experienced “some pangs of rumours” (sic) which were peddled to mislead members of the public, one of such rumours being that the High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had nullified the election of the State Governor. It was further reported that the Governor was away in Abuja on official assignment
,
et it never be said of our public servants that they are not working. Neither can you accuse them of lacking in long-term vision. I also dare anyone to say they lack that intrinsic intuition necessary for inspiring leadership. Take Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, for instance. His thoughts are so far advanced beyond the here and now he’s gone way past the mundane and pedestrian issues of light, water, good roads and other social amenities for the people and has moved on to more esoteric things like fighting the ‘menacing scourge’ of rumour mongering within the state. (Of course, it only became a scourge when he became the subject; whenNjideka and Shalewa get into that’s just two women fighting but that’s beside the point.)
Vanguard, MARCH 23, 2013—21
to confusion and eventually chaos if not nipped in the bud. Isn’t that what information management and Public Relations is all about? Where is Mr Governor’s media machinery? Then I don’t know how things work down there in Bayelsa, but I’d like to believe that it doesn’t matter how thick the rumour of his removal are; it would take much more that the bad belle utterances of his
,
I’m sure there are more creative ways to keep his cronies occupied
when the rumour of his removal hit town and he had to ‘rush back to dispel it….’ Now don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I am ignorant of how misinformation can lead
‘political detractors’ (those people ehn?!) to unseat him – then again, maybe not. I would have thought that a simple press release stating the contrary would be suffice or
better still pictures and video footage of a ‘Governor at work’would go a long way in dispelling that kind of rumour. Perhaps the problem is deeper than my simple mind kind grasp. When you set up and inaugurate a standing committee to look into rumour mongering and you give it the power to ‘fish out and prosecute’ alleged rumour mongers I foresee a huge problem looming ahead.Where does my freedom of speech and right to an opinion end and rumour mongering begin? And what if the so called rumour is based on truth? I mean if going by my personal parameters of social development I decide that the Governor is incompetent and make my views public,could that be considered rumour
mongering? And what form and to what degree is the offender punished? Would they be asked to pay a fine? Or will they go as far as being incarcerated; and for how long? Will there be such a thing as rumour mongering in the first degree? Will they make allowance for ‘extenuating circumstances? Is this even legal? I know you can be persecuted for libel and slander but rumour mongering? (Or are they one and the same?) Professor ItseSagay over to you! The Governor really didn’t have to go through the trouble and expense of setting up yet another standing committee that will only become redundant eventually, (I’m sure there are more creative ways to keep his cronies occupied) I could have told him for free that the true and lasting panacea for dispelling negative information is for him to be and do the direct opposite of what‘s being said. Nothing whitewashes a politician like delivering the dividends of democracy to the people. And because our expectations are so low, he wouldn’t even have to that much before his praises are sung to the high heavens! False tale bearers beware! Rumour mongering will no longer be tolerated in the great Bayelsa State; enhen!!
I
love the start of a new season, because it means NEW FASHION!!!!. The major fashion weeks have come, and gone. And as the dust settles on New York, London, Milan, and Paris, true fashionistas are already rampaging through the hundreds of looks we saw this season on the runways. Spring is already upon us as Wednesday, the 20th March marked the first official day of the new season. So, we can start easing up on the fall/ winter trends already because complacency in fashion is never an option. Here’s my guide to the most essential and wearable trends from the spring runways. Pick up one or two of these ideas and you’re set for the season. It’s that easy! TREND ALERT #1: The Bermuda Shorts pair of ultra-versatile runways, but this season it’s all If you haven’t invested in a Bermuda shorts yet, this is the about bold divide-you-in-half season to do so! These were stripes. You need to be careful all over the runways this with this trend, and season, and this is definitely experiment to see whether a more conventional way to you’ll be sticking to either the wear shorts for women. horizontals or verticals. Or They’re Ultra chic and oh-so maybe both! Designers like flattering. Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, and Tory Burch added the 60’s TREND ALERT #2: look to their spring Black and White collections. Black and white A standout look at many bold stripped pants continue Paris shows was sophisticated to be a hot trend this season. monochrome, most notably at the Alexander Wang, Jason TREND ALERT Wu, and Marc Jacobs shows. #4:Peekaboo Pieces With simplicity in terms of It’s all about Cutouts, midcolors, this means the onus is riff barring separates, and on smart, structured shapes thigh high slits, and sheer this spring season. You can fabrics this season. You will rock this trend in bold prints have no problem finding or polished separates, and of something sexy to wear this course... . It’s so easy to pull season, and the best part of off at any budget. I am this trend? There is a see ecstatic to see this classic through option for every body trend on the runways this shape. Plus, there are different spring season. This trend is levels of modesty up for grabs. the definition of wearable. These are some of the most wearable trends of this season, TREND ALERT #3: Bold and a surefire way to get you Stripes looking as fashionable as Every spring we see the possible without breaking the #1 return of stripes on the bank.
Iw ant, I need, I lo ve: Spring fashion decoded want, lov
C M Y K
#2
#3