Papi Silvio and the cheating British MPs By Reuben Abati TWO different incidents making the headlines at the moment in Italy and the United Kingdom reinforce the simple point about how the conduct of persons in public office is so central to their ability to provide leadership and how public confidence in that ability is so central to everything else. In Nigeria, indeed Africa, this is often underplayed. Public office is regarded as a divine privilege if not a license for impunity. Elsewhere, it is not. In Italy, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is currently in the eye of the storm over his alleged relationship with an 18-year old lingerie model Noemi Letizia who calls him "Papi Silvio". The young lady has explained that she is a virgin, and that she only spends time with the Prime Minister as follows: "Papi brought me up. He's always been kind to me. One year he gave me a little diamond; another tim...
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