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To the editor: Jacob Heilbrunn's warning of the significant return to power of neoconservatives in influencing the foreign policy advocated by the GOP, and less directly affecting our government's resulting overseas actions, should be taken very seriously. ("The neocons: They're back, and on Iran, they're uncompromising as ever," op-ed, April 2)

Neocons were totally discredited 10 years ago when the failure of their Middle East policies became clear. But memories are often short.

With Congress contemplating plans to undercut a tentative nuclear agreement with Iran, and with frequent calls for our military to intensify airstrikes and consider using ground forces again, the neocons apparently are slow learners. They still believe they have the power to unilaterally remake the Middle East.

Bill Hessell, Oak View

..

To the editor: Characteristically, progressives have high hopes and short memories.

Remember the North Koreans, who after talking 25 years ago about not having nuclear weapons now have these weapons and threaten the world? President Clinton was at first so happy and triumphant after making diplomatic inroads to North Korea. If only he had been more of a neocon.

The Iranians have been "snowing" us for years. Is there any doubt that even with an agreement in place, Iranian leaders will stall, lie and cheat?

Jack Kaczorowski, Los Angeles

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Go here to see the original:
Neocons and progressives: Which side has the shorter memory?

Deputy Governor of Jigawa, Alhaji Ahmad Mahmud

The Deputy Governor of Jigawa, Alhaji Ahmad Mahmud, has defected to the All Progressives Congress. But the state Peoples Democratic Party stated that he was expelled for alleged anti-party activities.

This was contained in a statement by the PDP chairman of Galagamma ward in Gumel, Jigawa, Alhaji Ibrahim Kafinta, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Dutse.

The chairman said the decision to expel Mahmud was taken during a stakeholders meeting held in his ward.

Reports had earlier indicated that Mahmud had dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress, which won the March 28 election in the state.

Kafinta did not say when the stakeholders meeting, which ratified the expulsion, held.

The ward chairman alleged that the deputy governor sabotaged PDP during the recent National Assembly election.

He added that the Gumel Local Government Area headquarters of the party, had endorsed the expulsion.

Efforts by NAN to get the comments of the deputy governor on the matter failed as he neither picked a call nor replied a text message sent to him.

More here:
Jigawa dep gov defects to APC

National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed | credits: File copy

The All Progressives Congress has raised the alarm over the rising cases of killing and maiming of its members in Rivers State, in the run up to next Saturdays governorship and House of Assembly elections.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this at a press briefing in Abuja, on Monday.

He said the APC was worried that the Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Mr. Nyesom Wike, aided by the security agencies, had continued to kill and maim its members and supporters.

Mohammed said that last week, nine members of the APC were killed in cold blood, while many others were injured, when suspected armed PDP thugs invaded Obrikom and Obor communities in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government of Rivers state.

The APC also alleged that these same thugs set ablaze the residence of Vincent Ogbagu, a candidate for the House of Assembly elections.

The statement read, APC members have been subjected to persistent harassment and intimidation across the state, using the police in Rivers and the Zone 6 in Calabar. Over 150 prominent members have been victims of this unprovoked persecution.

Just today (Monday), we received sad news from Rivers. An APC chieftain, Christopher Adube, was reportedly shot dead over the weekend. Adube, who hails from the Egbema Local Government Area, was said to have been shot dead at his residence

These are just some of the instances of what APC members and supporters in Rivers State have been subjected to in recent days.

However, Wike denied the allegations.

Originally posted here:
APC laments attacks against supporters in Rivers

The All Progressives Congress has stepped up campaign in Delta State, wooing political leaders and the electorate with their message on the need for the state to remain in alignment with the Federal Government.

Since 1999, Delta State has been under the control of the Peoples Democratic Party, which has been in charge of the Federal Government in the past 16 years.

Following the defeat of the PDP at the presidential election by the APC, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in Delta, Prof. Isaac Adakpo, told our correspondent that it was also time for change in the state.

Adakpo said the partys campaign in the past one week had focused on the need for the state not to in opposition with the centre and the need for change.

He said, We have been moving into the communities speaking to the people, giving them the reasons why Delta State should not be in opposition with the centre and the need to have a change.

Since the centre has given us the impetus for change, we need the change too because the 16 years of the PDP administration in Delta State has not paid off. We are trying our best to sell all our candidates, particularly the governorship candidate. We hope the people will respond positively to us.

Adakpo added that the APC in Delta had not received politicians defecting openly from the PDP in large numbers because of the political complexity of the state.

He said, We havent received such defections openly. Delta is a very complex state. People have been with the PDP administration all these years. A few PDP leaders in the Ndokwa nation and parts of Urhobo are making overtures. We are welcoming them with open arms. Nobody wants to come out in the open but of course they will be good moles for us on April 11.

See the rest here:
Delta cant afford to be in opposition

analysis

The governorship candidates of the major political parties are squaring up for the battle of the states on April 11, 2015. Except in few states, the contest is expected to be fierce between the newly elected governing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which has been leading the government since 1999.

In view of the outcome of the presidential elections which saw retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC emerging winner in an election contested by 14 candidates, including the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP, we have decided to look at the likely "Winners and Losers" at the forthcoming Governorship Election in 29 states of the federation.

LAGOS: A ding-dong battle of wills

The Lagos State gubernatorial election is already throwing up signs of a close contest between the two main political parties- the PDP and the APC.

Political pundits who have been keen on the development in the state are finding it difficult to place a bet on any of the candidates, Mr Jimi Agbaje, the PDP gubernatorial candidate and Mr Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC. Indeed, the two candidates, through their campaigns, have thrown up a number of issues, many of which might eventually become the determining factors on who either wins or loses.

Before the election, both Agbaje and Ambode made it a habit to campaign vigorously for their respective parties' presidential candidates. During Ambode's political campaigns across the 20 local governments in the state, his campaign and those of his party leaders, including a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the current Governor, Babatunde Fashola, the slogan had always been: "Vote Buhari, vote Ambode". While looking at the state incumbency machinery that has been deployed in mobilizing supporters and Lagosians alike, not a few disagree that the victory of Gen. Buhari might positively affect the chances of Ambode.

Agbaje has also not done badly in this regard. Against all odds and the perceived lethargy that first rocked his efforts at selling the candidacy of Mr President at the early stage of the campaign, Agbaje, backed with funds from the supporters of President Jonathan, succeeded in using "Vote Jonathan, vote Agbaje" to win the hearts of many people from the South South and South East living in Lagos. But this political calculation may change since President Jonathan has lost his election to the APC candidate.

KANO: Buhari's victory weighs down Takai, raises Ganduje

Out of all the 22 candidates contesting the seat of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Mallam Sagir Saliu Takai are viewed as the most likely occupiers of the Kano Government House on May 29.

Read the rest here:
Nigeria: The Battle of the States