The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Split

  • Split in R-APC as Saraki moves to join presidential race

    •May lock horns with Tambuwal, Kwankwaso, Atiku, Makarfi, others for PDP ticket
    •Opposition party leaders want ticket for old members, not defectors
    •What Saraki, Atiku discussed in Middle East
    •Obasanjo to back consensus candidate even if Atiku emerges

    Senate President Bukola Saraki is warming up to join the race for the Presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in August, according to sources in his camp.

    Hints about his presidential ambition emerged yesterday; just 24 hours after the Supreme Court cleared him of allegations of impropriety in his declaration of assets form by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

    The news immediately threw the camps of Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who are co-drivers of the R-APC with Saraki, into confusion.

    Tambuwal and Kwankwaso are also interested in the PDP presidential ticket and sources said it was their primary reason for wanting to return to the party having found out that they could not wrestle the ticket from President Buhari in the APC.

    Saraki, who is  said to be under pressure from his supporters to vie for the ticket, has been consulting his associates, political strategists, and well-wishers in the last 24 hours.

    If he consents to seek the ticket, the move is bound to alter the Reformed-All Progressives Congress(R-APC) permutations ahead of next year’s elections.

    The birth of the R-APC was announced last Wednesday by some top members of the APC who claimed the party has failed to live up to expectation.

    Saraki travelled to Port Harcourt, Rivers State yesterday to commission some projects executed by Governor Nyesom Wike.

    The Rivers State Governor is the arrowhead of PDP’s plan to stage a comeback next year.

    The governor is credited with sponsoring the election of Prince Uche Secondus as the national chairman of the PDP.

    But it could not be ascertained last night if Saraki’s unfolding   game-plan informed his Port Harcourt trip yesterday.

    The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is also said to have been taken aback by Saraki’s sudden interest in the presidential race.

    A source knowledgeable about the relationship between  Atiku and Saraki yesterday rated the Senate President’s latest move as  an “upset and contrary to the discussion by the two leaders in a country in the Middle East.”

    The source said “what was agreed upon by Saraki, Atiku and other contestants was that whoever secured the presidential ticket would be supported by all.”

    But the source said Saraki “did not give any commitment to back Atiku only for the presidency.”

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the Supreme Court verdict on Saraki played a big role in changing the permutations in the R-APC and the PDP.

    Rules out continued membership of APC, support for Buhari’s re-election

    Saraki, it was gathered, has ruled out remaining in APC or backing Buhari for re-election, declining persuasion by a top presidency official that he should remain in the APC.

    The Senate President felt he will “not be able to have moral and emotional stamina to campaign for Buhari in view of his humiliation at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the police on Offa robbery.”

    His political family and APC supporters in Kwara State are also said to be opposed to mounting the podium for Buhari in 2018/2019 electioneering.

    Investigation also showed that  Friday’s ruling of the  Supreme Court  which cleared him of any corruption stigma was the ‘joker’ Saraki  needed to rescue his political career.

    “Since the pronouncement of the Supreme Court, the Senate President has become morally emboldened to rev up his presidential ambition. He has started consultations in the last 24 hours,” a source said yesterday.

    “So far, the preliminary round of consultations indicate that he might participate in the presidential primaries of the PDP with some R-APC aspirants like Tambuwal and Kwankwaso.

    “Initial field report and extensive survey have buoyed his confidence of winning the slot.

    “With this development, Saraki will slug it out in PDP with Atiku, ex-Governor Ahmed Makarfi; ex-Minister Tanimu Turaki; ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau; ex-Governor Sule Lamido and others.

    “Already, Saraki is done with APC going by the formation of R-APC and the defection of some of his backers and political like-minds to PDP.”

    Asked why Saraki cannot stay in APC to challenge Buhari for the presidential ticket, the source added: “he believes he did not deserve the humiliation he went through at the tribunal and in the hands of the police.

    “What finally made the Senate President to forsake APC was his being linked with those behind the bank robbery and killings in Offa by the Police.

    “I think the police pronouncement did more damage and it was that day he drew the line with APC.

    “Also, his family, relations and political supporters in Kwara State don’t want to hear anything about APC. The trauma was too much for them.”

    Tension in R-APC camp

    Assessing the situation in R-APC on the strength of Saraki’s plan to join the race for PDP presidential ticket, an informed source said: “there is tension everywhere now within our ranks.

    “From the look of things, having three R-APC leaders seeking the PDP presidential ticket is like a house divided against itself.

    “The coming of Saraki will certainly whittle down the prospect of Tambuwal and Kwankwaso because our calculations will change. And do not forget that these three leaders will still have to confront other presidential hopefuls who are in PDP.

    “The race may look open but the path is laced with landmines if R-APC members have to split their votes at the presidential primaries of PDP. It would have been better if Saraki stuck to the negotiated offer of Senate Presidency in 2019.

    “You can see that the R-APC innovation may not last more than two months because the leaders may fall apart over presidential ticket.”

    Asked if Saraki will not be betraying a mutual understanding between him and Atiku in a Middle East country recently, the source said: “there was no pact. What was agreed upon by Saraki, Atiku and other contestants was that whoever secured the presidential ticket will be supported by all.”

    PDP leaders root for ‘old’ party members in presidential ticket race

    Party sources also said that some PDP leaders are opposed to ceding the party’s presidential slot to defectors from APC.

    “We won’t allow them to come back and take over our house. Many of us believe that the R-APC leaders are looking for a refuge camp in PDP and they should not be dictating to us from a position of weakness,” a PDP BoT member told The Nation.

    “If we decide not to readmit them into PDP, they will be politically stranded.

    “It will be a disaster handing over our presidential mandate to any of the defecting leaders. We want the ticket for any of our old and consistent members who are in the race like Ahmed Makarfi, Tanimu Turaki, Ibrahim Shekarau, Sule Lamido, and to some extent, Atiku Abubakar.

    “These R-APC leaders should know their limit. You don’t run into a house cap-in-hand and seize it from the landlord.”

    It was gathered that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has been persuaded to support any consensus candidate picked by PDP and other 30 parties it might form an alliance with.

    A member of the NWC said: “We have begged Baba to forgive and forget in supporting any common candidate agreed upon by PDP and other coalition parties.

    “We made this request having in mind whether the candidate will be Atiku or not. He has left the option open with a target that the APC must be shown the way out of power in 2019.

    “Baba is only after a credible choice that can match Buhari. He is no longer fixated on any candidate.”

     

  • Niger Delta won’t back agitation to split Nigeria, says Wike

    Niger Delta won’t back agitation to split Nigeria, says Wike

    Leaders and people of Niger Delta will defend Nigeria’s unity because they believe the country should remain as one indivisible entity, River State Governor Nyesom Wike has said.

    Speaking during a visit to Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Saad Abubakar at his palace, Wike said Nigeria’s unity is ‘non-negotiable’ and of paramount importance.

    He added that the interest of Nigerians and Africans would be better served with Nigeria remaining as one “strong and united nation”.

    He said: “Let me first of all sincerely thank you, our father the Sultan, for what you are doing for this country, working tirelessly to ring peace and to bring unity to the people. So, for all of us, this is what is meant by one Nigeria.

    “We cannot run away from this country. The unity of this country is very, very paramount. The unity of this country is non-negotiable. I am from the Niger Delta, from Rivers State to be specific. So, I cannot see us in a divided country. No way. We stand for the unity of this country,” Wike added.

    According to the governor, his administration has put a lot of time, resources and energy to protect national assets, especially the ones in Rivers State.

    “In Rivers, you hardly find pipeline vandalisation. We are working at all times to protect national assets in our state. In my state, I am governor for all the people living in the state. I am not a governor of a particular political party, but a governor for all the people of Rivers State.”

    He hailed the Sultan for his leadership of the Muslim community in Nigeria, adding that he was in Sokoto to felicitate with his colleague, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who gave out his daughter in marriage on Saturday.

    He equally dispelled the notion that his relationship with Tambuwal had political connotation, saying the Sokoto governor had been his friend for a long time, “long before politics defined who we are now.”

    “Tambuwal is my friend for a long time. If anything affects him, it affects me also. If he gives out his daughter in marriage, I have to be here to support him. If any problem happens to him, it affects me as well.

    “Your Eminence, I am here to seek your royal blessing. You have blessed me before, that is why I am growing. So, let me wish you a prosperous new year ahead,” he added.

    Both the host governor and Sultan implored Nigerians to live in peace with one another, and wished their countrymen and women a year full of happiness and blessings.

    The governor has also restated his administration’s commitment to promoting peace and growth in the state.

    In a New Year message broadcast in Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike said his administration had enormous political will to embark on projects that would trigger growth across the state.

    He urged Rivers people to work together to ensure that the state enjoyed peace and development in 2017.

    “We cannot thank you enough for your consistent prayers, understanding, sacrifices and unconditional support and encouragement throughout 2016.

  • PDP governors, NWC split over Kogi governorship poll

    PDP governors, NWC split over Kogi governorship poll

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and members of its National Working Committee (NWC) are divided over whether or not to support Kogi State Governor Idris Wada for second term.

    The governors and the NWC are confused on how to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) from winning the governorship poll.

    The jostle for the ticket is between Wada and a former banker, Jibrin Isa Echocho.

    It was gathered that Governor Olusegun Mimiko, ex-Governors Liyel Imoke and Ibrahim Idris are supporting Wada.

    But Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, two governors and some NWC members prefer Echocho because of “his wider acceptance by PDP members and the electorate”.

    Mimiko, Imoke and Senator Iyiola Omisore had a long session with Echocho a few days ago to convince him to quit the race.

    At the session, the pro-Wada leaders said ordinarily the governor ought to have an automatic ticket – in line with the agreement between PDP governors and ex-President Goodluck Jonathan before the 2015 general elections.

    But Echocho vowed not to step down for Wada.

    A highly-placed source said: “The PDP is in disarray in Kogi State ahead of the governorship poll. Some PDP governors and NWC members are sharply divided on the choice of the party’s candidate.

    “Based on alleged low performance, some governors and NWC members believe that Wada’s candidacy is not sellable.

    “They said a survey conducted by the party indicated that the PDP might lose if Wada is fielded.

    “They said the ultimate target is to prevent the APC from winning the governorship poll.”

    These reasons accounted for the refusal of the NWC to concede automatic ticket to Wada.

    But Mimiko, Imoke, Idris and Omisore said Wada had done “reasonably well” and PDP could win the state again.

    Another source added: “Mimiko and others begged Echocho to step down for Wada, but he refused, saying they were trying to force him to go through his 2011 experience.

    “Echocho warned that PDP will lose if Wada is anointed as the candidate of the party,” said the source.

    Wada may have to slug it out at the primaries, if Echocho remains adamant.”

     

  • Split vs window air conditioner

    Split vs window air conditioner

    An air conditioner comprises three main parts, which are condenser, evaporator and compressor.

    In a split AC the condenser and the compressor are placed in the outdoor unit. The evaporator is located in the indoor unit which cools the room.

    The window air conditioner is a single unit installed having one face inside and the other faces outside in a window or a gap. The inside part contains the filters, evaporators, fans and control panel whereas the outside portion contains the compressor & condenser.

    The split AC and window AC are both equally efficient. The efficiency depends on various factors, like atmosphere, insulation and not on type of the AC.

    Below are some of the differences which should be kept in mind before buying an AC.

    DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SPLIT AC AND WINDOW AC

    Design

    In Window air conditioners heat exchangers, compressors, condensermotors and connecting pipes are placed on the same base.

    Split ACs consist of indoor and outdoor unit.

    Space

    Window ACs occupy more space than split ACs.

    Installation

    Window AC installation is easier than Split AC.

    Cost of equipment and installation cost

    A split AC costs more than a window AC of same capacity and similar energy star rating.

    The installation of a split AC costs more as you need to install two units-one indoor and one outdoor, which then need to be connected through copper tubing. There are other costs for accessories which might be needed for split ACs which include copper tunes and mounting tubes.

    Unistallation of split AC and installation of the AC actually needs to refill gas. This also adds to the cost of installation. Window ACs do not refilling of gas when it is uninstalled and again installed at a new place.

    Split Air Conditioner

    Window Air Conditioner

    Multiple Units

    Multiple cooling units are in split ACs, single outdoor unit can also cater to multiple indoor units. Window ACs have only one compact unit.

    Electricity costs

    The running cost of window and split for same energy rating is similar. There is no benefit of AC type, the split AC might use a little bit extra electricity but the difference is not enough to affect buying decision.

     

    Noise level

    The split AC makes lesses noise as the compressor is located in the outdoor unit that is not in the room. If you are light sleeper, prefer split AC over window AC.

    Service

    Window AC is easier to service than Split AC.

    Capacity

    Generally the maximum capacity of Window AC is 2.0 Ton whereas for Split AC there is no such restriction.

  • Shell promotes split clamps

    It was a heap of accolades for the oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), in Bayelsa State. The Nigerian Content Development Management Board (NCDMB) and other players in the petroleum sector praised Shell for pioneering and expanding the frontiers of local participation in the oil and gas sector.

    The event revolved around Egba split clamps, the first indigenous split-sleeve clamps proudly produced in Nigeria by Egba Split Clamps Limited.

    Niger Delta Report discovered that the split clamp market is a busy one. Clamps are used by oil multinationals to temporarily stop spillage of oil from sabotaged or ruptured pipelines. It is a quick measure used to avert pollution of the environment at a spill site pending permanent repairs of the compromised point.

    Therefore, the split clamp is hot cake especially for oil multinationals operating in the Niger Delta region because of the rising incidences of pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering. It was learnt that most companies source their clamps from European and Asian countries. So, all the clamps used in Nigeria are imported.

    But the story is expected to change following the discovery of Egba split clamps by SPDC. The local clamp was brought to limelight in a local content day exhibition organised by SPDC in 2009. Shell discovered Egba and since then the company has taken many steps to develop and make it the most sought-after clamp in Nigeria.

    SPDC is sponsoring the company’s professional certification to international standard. SPDC brought the Shell Global Solutions (SGS) from Amsterdam to Lagos to carry out pressure testing and inspection of Egba split clams.

     The oil company also facilitated a forum where Egba presented its clamps to the NCDMB in Yenagoa. The Executive Secretary of the board, Mr. Ernest Nwakpa received Egba and SPDC.

    The General Manager of Shell, Mr. Igo Weli, said SPDC had placed an order for six of the clamps to help the Egba update its certification which was concluded recently. He said after perfecting contractual documents, SPDC would consider placing the local manufacturer on a long-term contract of supplying the clamps.

  • Talk without tactics; Judicial Performance Record; Emergency electric power; Split road contracts into 10

    Talk without tactics; Judicial Performance Record; Emergency electric power; Split road contracts into 10

    Road officials nationwide should operate 7am to 9pm even on Sundays at every jammed junction.

    Warning about newspaper articles: ‘Agreement without action’, ‘words without work’ and ‘talk without tactics’ are worthless. Those who love Nigeria must take action –like NGOs on the ‘First $12.5b Gulf Oil Windfall’ where their court case was thrown out perhaps for lack of jurisdiction or time lapse or even that the NGOs ‘lack authority to represent the people’. But has the money expired? Has a NGO no right to enquire about the common wealth? More NGOS should follow this lead. Unfortunately the government lawyer relished the moment publically but the moral shoe is on the other foot. Millions of Nigerians wept watching him boasting as yet another opportunity to expose the truth was thwarted ‘legally’. The war against corruption has not started. Judges know they could die without being remembered for ‘moral judgements’ unlike UK’s Lord Denning and Nigeria’s Justice Kayode Eso.

    Eventually the judiciary must learn courage or face ridicule and ‘watchdog’ judicial enquiry. In fact a compulsory monthly updated computer-based ‘Magistrates and Judges Performance Record’ for evidence-based keeping track of ‘sick leaves’, injunctions, adjournments, no shows, wrong jurisdiction courts and technicalities, adjournments, case length, judgements and reversals on Appeal should be created by the Judicial Council or NGOS. Such a performance record will paradoxically help protect judges from corruption pressure. Is it not amazing that from infamous Pol Pot to Pinochet to today, the excuse of ‘sickness’ ridicules the judicial process as an excuse for ‘alternative’ incarceration in VIP hospital or hotel instead of a prison cell? Their dead and murdered victims had no ‘sick-off’ to avoid execution.

    Nigeria should be in a hurry to right the wrongs of decades of incompetent rulership. The pain of a pothole is when it is filled and you remember the needless suffering from rubbish road works. The pain of electricity powerlessness is when you visit those with 24 hour power and discover they are black like you and do not have two heads or a generator at home, office and everywhere.

    Job creation means work in building the 14,000,000 Nigerian homes. Japan replaced all power losses from its shutdown nuclear plant within 3 months using known international emergency electricity companies. Japanese did not starve of power while awaiting a new power station. Nigeria’s multi-billion budget for publically funded generators, fuel and maintenance charges could be better spent on cheaper, large scale, emergency power pending ‘the final solution to power problems’ –the IPPs. So let us remove generators, fuel and maintenance items, except for hospitals, from all government budgets, offices and homes from the presidency, politicians and public officials and PHCN staff. If we do this from Jan 1st 2013 power will ‘flow’. Power is an emergency and a right, not a dividend of democracy. To put our 100,000MW pathetic political power failure in perspective, every single Nigerian from barber to baker to banker would be 10-30% better off financially if power was constant. They would be able to invest in and increase non-oil business and employment by 10-30%. Of course the petroleum billionaires would be 40-50% poorer if Nigeria’s generators dry up as fuel consumption would go down. Hurray!

    A 300 Level undergraduate of Political Science told me today that they have never analysed current affairs in class. It is time for curriculum change to include ‘Application of Today’s Lecture to World and Local Events’. Undergraduates in every discipline need a lecturer guided/ student space to discuss and research Nigeria’s pathetic state every day.

    Potholes are filled year round in countries like Thailand with monsoon rainy season. Nigerian roads are mysteriously abandoned during ‘rainy season’ –disgracing Nigerian professionals. Nigeria must fill potholes 365 days a year and work day and night during the dry season.

    Teachers should teach NASS and government an old mathematical puzzle – ‘If it takes one farmer 10 days to plough a field, how long would it take 10 farmers to do the same field? Answer ‘One day’. So why does Nigeria not divide all roads into sections of 10-20km for 5 or 10 contractors? Road mega-contracts have failed Nigeria, creating 1 or 2 billionaires and millions of road sufferers and failed projects nationwide. A country is not made great by billionaires but by its other classes. Multiple small contracts will produce a quick execution of contracts, healthy rivalry, competitive quotations, more happy contractor families, more spread of wealth, 10 times the employment, fewer exclusive yachts and private jets. Governments must initiate a ‘Split Contract Policy’ of ‘Prove why the contract should not be split’.

    CBN governor Sanusi’s comments about workers reduction require dispassionate thought. The origin of our recent financial problems is the excesses of the NASS ‘Salaries And Perks’ precipitating the ‘Second Nigerian SAP programme’ after Babangida’s First SAP programme. This caused a backlash of supersalary demands among other political appointees, civil servants and states and LGAs. The CBN could deliberately improve the naira at say N1/month over 4 years and bring down the 12% interbank interest rates and the 21-25% bank interest rate. This would have reducing the cost of living. Nigeria is eating its own hands. To save the economy, put politicians on a sitting part-time allowance and target strategies for a naira of N120: $1 by 2015. Strengthening the naira will empower salary earners, create jobs, wealth and halve the number of Nigerians living on $1/day.