Category: Politics

The exchange of words between Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, and his main challenger at 2019 gubernatorial election, Adelabu Penkelemesi has taken a new dimension as Gov. Makinde reacted again by declaring at the weekend that his government has, in its first two years, increased the state’s Internally Generated Revenue by close to N15 Billion without increasing taxes.

The governor, who stated this on Saturday evening at the 41st Omo Aj’orosun Day Celebration, in Ibadan, also took time out to educate his main challenger in the 2019 election, Mr. Bayo Adelabu, and opposition elements on the essence of the Alternative Project Funding Approach(APFA) of his administration.

He stated that the Approach has helped the state in bridging its infrastructure deficit, while also helping to expand the economy and increase the state’s IGR.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor’s words came few hours after Adelabu, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 election, openly lied that the state has only increased its IGR by N300 Million monthly since Makinde assumed office.

The governor said: “Within the first two years, we increased the IGR by close to N15b. We did it without raising taxes. We did it just by appealing and bringing more people into the tax net.

“The motorcycle operators were paying 200 Naira before we got into government and we reduced it to N100.”

The statement recalled that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had in its 2020 report indicated that the state’s IGR witnessed a 42 per cent growth, a growth which the governor explained, was achieved by bringing in more people into the tax net rather than raising taxes.

Governor Makinde, who felicitated members of the Aj’orosun Club, promised to donate a bus to the club on Monday, also called on residents of the state to support the government’s efforts on security.

The governor warned against politicising the security challenges in the state, stating that instead of criticising without suggesting solutions as some are wont to do, everyone has to contribute to make the state safer.

He said: “On the issue of insecurity they are politicizing, there is available data. There is common sense too on some of these things. But all of us have to contribute in one way or the other. I want to beg you: Support us on the security architecture we have put out there.

“The arm-chair critics would just keep ranting and if you ask them to proffer a solution, they lack it. All of us must contribute, especially in the aspect of voluntary policing. The vigilantes, the Mogajis, our traditional institutions should come with us. I told someone that I cannot imagine Oyo State without Amotekun and it did not exist before we got into government.

“Before I got into government, security agencies could not effectively communicate security information between Ibadan and Ogbomoso. But we have strengthened the architecture we met when we came in. We have spent more than a quarter of N1b to put in place security communication equipment throughout Oyo State.

“Now, we are asking the banks that we want to integrate the CCTVs they have installed into our own security control centre. You installed this government and we are accountable to you. So, if you see something, say something to us,”

Governor Makinde said.

He also stated that he took time to listen to an interview by Adelabu on Fresh FM, with the intention of picking valuable points, but expressed disappointment that the former CBN Deputy Governor’s criticisms were misguided.

He said that the politician’s takes on the APFA and the resolution of the agelong ownership crisis on the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso were flawed.

“This morning, I intentionally listened to the interview of my brother, Mr. Bayo Adelabu, on Fresh FM.

“So, I listened to Adelabu to know if there is anything I could pick from his argument. One of the things he criticized was our adoption of the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA) instead of Build, Operate and Transfer. I stand before you today to ask and challenge them to tell us the project they have done successfully under the Build, Operate and Transfer model in Oyo State, even at the federal level. So, for us, we thoroughly studied a lot of things before we concluded on APFA.

“There are two elements in APFA. One, there is a link between the existing infrastructural deficit and the internally generated revenue. When you tackle or reduce the infrastructure deficit, you are invariably increasing your IGR. And if we want to improve on our IGR to make more money for our government, we have to bridge the infrastructure deficit.

“What are the challenges usually associated with government projects that lead to abandoned projects? The past governments failed to see the end from the beginning of the projects. They started by paying 30 per cent to the contractor and those who wanted to get their 5 or 10 per cent got theirs.

“When the contractor got the work done to a certain point, there would not be money to continue to fund the project. As a result, the contractor would resort to reducing the quality of the project and destroying things more.

“So, we adopted APFA because it is solving many problems for us. “One, most of the contractors, by the time they complete any of our projects, the highest amount we must have paid them is 35-45 per cent.

“So, a contractor that is still having 55 per cent of his money with the government does a quality job so as to get his balance.

“It has been a model that is working for us as we are bridging the infrastructure gap in Oyo State and increasing our IGR.

“Secondly, Adelabu argued that the sole ownership of LAUTECH is wasteful. Some people, before we came into government, met with me and said it is only Oyo State that does not have a state-owned university. They went ahead to establish a Technical University here and we did not know if it truly belonged to Oyo State or a private person not until we got into government.

But I can tell you that the amount of money that came out of the coffers of Oyo State to the Technical University, which has no record in the state’s budget, is over 15 Billion Naira.”

The governor added that his administration has been implementing the Oyo State Roadmap for Accelerated Development 2019-2023, which he described as a pact between his government and the people of the state, stating that by the end of the tenure, the government will be evaluated based on those things it promised.

He, however, counselled opposition politicians not to pull down his government or destroy the state because of their ambition, saying: “I want to say that God will have mercy on those eyeing this seat. If God wishes to put them on the seat, they don’t need to destroy the state.

“They don’t need to pull down the current government and destroy our state. They should focus on things they know they can do better and sell them to the people of Oyo State.”

Oyo State Government has urged residents to put aside their faith, political and ethnic affiliations but rather forge a common front towards defeating various forms of criminal activities that pose serious threats to the State.

Speaking today during a live broadcast on King’s f.m., Ibadan, the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun said that unless insecurity was collectively and roundly tackled, development and peace will be threatened.

The Commissioner however sounded a note of warning to those who have vowed to threaten the peaceful coexistence in the state and cause crisis in the state, saying the State Government has started tackling insecurity challenged headlong.

According to him, Oyo State Government is quite aware that without tackling insecurity, investors will not come to the staye and this will not give room for job opportunities. Therefore, all hands are on deck to put a stop to insecurity.

“As a state, we need prayers particularly at this time where we are facing a lot of challenges especially insecurity.

Speaking further on the State Government’s architecture to curb insecurity, Dr. Olatunbosun asserted that the State Government has commenced engagement with non-state actors and relevant stakeholders, including all religious leaders whose roles in ensuring peace returns to the state can not be overemphasized.

He stressed that Oyo State is on the verge of economic redemption as executed by Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration and activities in the state can not be grounded by insecurity.

Dr. Olatunbosun therefore appealed to residents of the state to be involved in the overhauling of security architecture by reporting criminal elements within their communities and vicinity.

On health, Olatunbosun said Oyo State Government is making concerted efforts to establish primary health centres at each ward in the state before 2023.

While he added that the State Government is presently rehabilitating hospitals, Dr. Olatunbosun also assured residents of Soka area in Ibadan that Government will ensure speedy completion of the abandoned community health Centre.

The Lagos Government has tasked Nigerian journalists to ensure that their reportage is truthful, fair and just in order to promote national interest.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, while speaking through Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Olusina Thorpe, has charged journalists not to sacrifice professionalism on the altar of unionism but rather focus on responsible reportage that promotes national interest.

Thorpe, who represented the Honourable Commissioner, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, during a courtesy visit of the South-West Chairmen and Secretaries of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) to the Lagos State Government, explained that journalists as the fourth estate of the realm should always be cautious and differentiate between national, sectional, personal or business interest, which can be inimical to the development of the nation.

His words: “As the Fourth Estate of the Realm, we should be very circumspect in the discharge of our duties so we are not used as cannon fodders to set the Nation on fire. Always be cautious to differentiate between National interests and sectional, personal or business interest which can be inimical to the development of the nation”.

Pointing out that NUJ is a double-edged sword serving as both a union and a professional body, Thorpe maintained that it is a professional body with expectations, hence the Union should go back to the drawing board and develop position papers that can assist in resolving Nigeria’s current challenges.

He cited the various poverty alleviation initiatives, as well as railway construction projects, aimed at connecting regions and getting trucks off the roads amongst other benefits, as pointers to an optimistic future for the country, reiterating the commitment of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to support journalists, especially in respect of the ongoing construction project of the State Council’s Secretariat in Ikeja.

The Permanent Secretary noted that the cordial relationship between the State Council and Lagos State Government has ensured that issues are resolved before they degenerate into crisis.

He tasked the visitors to review the publications presented to them on the achievements of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and return to their various States to challenge, interrogate and investigate issues, saying “let us bring out the best in what government is doing, let us chart what can be done in the interest of our people because when our people are happy the nation is happy.”

Earlier the Chairman of Ekiti State NUJ, Mr. Rotimi Ojomoyela, commended the Lagos State Government for providing an atmosphere for journalists to operate without fear or intimidation despite the current challenges confronting the nation, noting that Lagos State has the highest number of media houses as well as journalists and describing the State as a true centre of excellence.

The Chairman stated that his team was impressed with the existing cordial relationship between the management of the Ministry and Union members as evident in its efforts towards capacity building and revenue generation.

He expressed gratitude to the government for its support towards the completion of a befitting Secretariat for the Union.

Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed, yesterday, said Federal Government had identified about 476 online platforms devoted to bringing down the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The minister said this in Lagos at a meeting by Progressive Governors’ Forum for information managers in APC-led government at federal and state levels across Nigeria.

Mohammed, who spoke on “Mitigating the Contemporary Challenges of Information and Communication Management,” said that the most daunting task anyone could take on in this age and time is that of information and communication management.

The minister noted that aside from funds challenge, information managers also face the challenges posed by new information and digital technology.

He said that leveraging the new information and digital technology would undoubtedly facilitate information managers’ work, saying: “The multiplicity, immediacy and pervasiveness of the platforms of information dissemination mean that we can reach more people much faster. Ordinarily, that should be a good thing. But when you remember that those who are trying hard to distort the information you are putting out also have access to the same technology, you will realise the meaning of the paradox of technology that I spoke about earlier.”

Also speaking, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has described the job of government information managers as a difficult one.

He further said that the proper framework of communication by government is the bedrock of any governance.

According to him, the challenge many in government are facing is the inability to communicate well with the people, giving room for crisis and misinformation.

Sanwo-Olu said the task of government is to resolve crisis, promising that the APC government at federal and state levels is ready to take the needed steps to resolve all communication challenges.

The Governor of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Thursday inaugurated the newly-reconstructed 8.1km Moro-Yakoyo-Ipetumodu-Asipa road in Ife-North Local Government Area of the State after 45 years of construction.

The project is the biggest road infrastructure intervention in the history of the council, as the newly reconstructed road was first constructed in 1976.

The road construction project was awarded as part of government’s efforts to improve the socioeconomic activities of the residents of the areas.

The Governor noted that it was also in furtherance of his Administration’s goal to deliver adequate, quality and equitable services to the people and in fulfilment of his electoral promises to raise the bar of infrastructure, boost socio-economic activities and stimulate the economy of the State.

This is even as he disclosed that his Administration has carried out about 100 road intervention efforts aimed at spreading amenities to every village and town in the long run to provide opportunities for the people, eliminate crime and unemployment, and check rural-urban migration.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony at Ipetumodu, Governor Oyetola noted that the reconstruction of the road after decades of its deplorable status has further justified government’s avowed commitment to giving adequate attention to intra- and inter-city roads so as to facilitate movement of goods and people and as well serve as a catalyst for massive investment in the State.

Oyetola who reiterated the Administration’s commitment to road infrastructural development, said the State under his watch would continue to muster resources to build strategic roads across the State.

“You will all recall that in my Inauguration Speech on November 27, 2018, I did mention that we recognised the importance of intra- and inter-city roads to facilitate movement of goods and people and that we shall continue to muster resources to build strategic roads across the State. You will agree with me that we have kept faith with the above promise.

“Since coming to office a little over two and half years ago, apart from funding all the major road projects we inherited from the previous administration, our Administration has carried out about 100 road intervention efforts, including construction and rehabilitation of over 80 rural and township roads across the three Senatorial Districts in line with the quality, equitable and adequate service/project delivery of our Development Agenda.

“Apart from the iconic Olaiya Flyover in the State capital, which has reached about 50 percent completion, we have completed several other roads, while others are ongoing.

“Among them are Alekuwodo road and over 25km Ede-Ara-Ejigbo road which have been inaugurated, as well as Igbajo-Ada 13km road and Ilesa Roundabout-Sabo-Akure Expressway 4.1km which are ready for inauguration.

“The first phase of the Modakeke Famia road has also been completed, just as we have commenced the Phase 2 of the project. The Aagba township road which was awarded in September last year is nearing completion, while those of Ido-Osun, Kuta, Gbongan and Ejigbo are all ongoing, just as the 16km Osogbo-Kelebe-Iragbiji road is nearing completion.

“Other ongoing road projects are GOF Ori Oke Pure Water, Osogbo; LAUTECH-Ajegunle, Osogbo, Ikirun-Ekoinde and Oroki Estate to All Souls Anglican Church, Okefia. Work will soon start on the reconstruction of 10km Ila-Arandun road and Lawyer Atanda road Iwo any time soon.

“Let me seize this occasion to inform this gathering that, in addition to this road, which we are inaugurating today, the reconstruction of Iloro- Aganun road, Ile-Ife, will be completed in a few months from now. We have successfully done 41 PHCs in the entire Ife land while the rehabilitation of the General Hospital, Ifetedo, has been completed.

“Today, the people of Moro, Yakoyo, Ipetumodu and Asipa join the above-mentioned towns and other scores of their counterparts that have benefitted from our resolve to make our people enjoy the good life and socio-economic dividends. The road will offer your farmers and traders the opportunity to transport their produce and goods to the market.

“I must also restate my call for the need for your communities and other towns in the State to engage in community development efforts to provide projects for the people as government alone cannot provide all the facilities every town requires.

“I urge the people of Moro, Yakoyo, Ipetumodu, Asipa and the entire Ife North Local Government to reciprocate government’s gesture by engaging in small businesses and entrepreneurial activities in order to derive personal benefits from our infrastructure development and road construction efforts and boost their personal lives and prosper their families. I must also urge you all to join cooperative societies to further boost your businesses.

“Our goal as a government is to spread amenities, including roads, to every village and town in the long run to provide opportunities for the people, eliminate crime and unemployment, and check rural-urban migration. We believe that the prosperity of Osun lies in the amalgam of the prosperity of all the people, which, if well harnessed, will become channels of socioeconomic development of the State.

“We also believe that every citizen should have the privilege to prosper in any part of the State he chooses to stay. This is the reason we engage in massive infrastructure development to spread opportunities.

“Let me assure the citizens of Osun that we remain committed to equitable distribution of services, including infrastructure. We shall not fail in our duty to continue to provide opportunities and facilities for our people to be gainfully engaged and become instruments of prosperity and development to the State,” Oyetola added.

Also speaking, former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade, commended the governor for prudent management of resources and for justifying the confidence reposed in him by the electorate.

“The road was constructed in 1976. Baba Akande had promised to help fix it if he got a second term. So when the community asked me to approach Governor Oyetola to fix it, I couldn’t because I know the State has no money. I am therefore grateful to the governor for fixing this road despite paucity of funds,” Akinrinade said.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Hon. Remi Omowaye lauded the Administration for taking the welfare and well-being of the people as priority as reflected in the massive infrastructure development aimed at securing the future of the State.

Omowaye said: “We are grateful to God because in spite of the tough economic situation, governance is still possible in Osun. God is helping us to do what is expected of us. Oyetola has earned a number of names owing to his financial prowess, but he has proven himself as a ‘Mr. No abandoned project’.

“The governor has also instructed that we take the measurement of Asipa to Akinlalu and give him a feedback. That is a sign of good things to come.

“If we take the four local governments in Ife, we have done a good number of roads. We may not be loud about it, but work is ongoing. What we have done is unprecedented. There is no where in the country where 332 PHCs were revitalised at the same time. All these calls for thanksgiving. Even the projects we inherited from the previous government, we have mobilised contractors back to site.

“We trust that Osun people are not ingrates. They are seeing what is going on in the State and we know that they will reciprocate the kind gesture. With your support, we look forward to continuity.
The number of projects that this government has done in spite of the paucity of funds is surprising.
We are also working in concertion with the federal government to fix some other roads.

“The prowess of Mr. Governor is really attracting the intervention of the federal government in Osun. Now, we have a Federal College of Education, and a Federal University, all attributable to the Governor’s strength of character “

Earlier, the Contractor of the Project, Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited, Engr. Adeleke Olanrewaju, reassured the people of the areas of quality service delivery, noting that the road would last long as expected.

In their separate remarks, the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye; Member House of Assembly representing Ife-North State Constituency, Hon. Babatunde Olatunji, and Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede lauded the Governor for the prompt intervention on the road which according to them had hitherto become the death trap for the road users.

The occasion was attended by traditional rulers, community leaders, sons and daughters of the affected communities.

Nigerian Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, Ondo and Oyo Deputy Governors; Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Rauf Olaniyan were in attendance with the families of the Late Senator Ajimobi at the one year remembrance event held today in Ibadan. The snapshots of the event highlighted below for photostory.

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has congratulated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on his 56th birthday, describing him as one who continues to prove his belief in the development and prosperity of the state.

Obasa, in a message released by his media office on Thursday, said the Governor’s actions and activities have been such that have helped the State to maintain its enviable position in Nigeria.

Obasa further commended Sanwo-Olu for the cordial relationship enjoyed by the executive and the legislative arms, adding that this has continued to reflect in the successes achieved by the government thus far.

“I heartily congratulate our amiable and hardworking Governor, who has, like many of us, continued to experience sleepless nights in his zeal to sustain the tempo of growth and development in Lagos.

“Our dear State is proud to have had leaders who are passionate about its progress and you remain one of them.

“Last year, I attested to a cordial relationship between the executive and the legislative arms of the government of Lagos State and this has been sustained by you and your cabinet.

“I also spoke about some of your exemplary qualities, the wisdom and strength that God has blessed you with as well as how you have been able to effectively implement policies for the benefit of the people who you serve as Governor.

“I want to reaffirm that we have remained brothers, bonded by the need to continue to make Lagos one of the best places in Nigeria and where residents would live happily with their neighbours,” Obasa said.

While promising that the House of Assembly would continue to support and collaborate with the executive arm and its good courses, the Speaker urged the Governor to see his birthday as a fresh unction from God for more strength to lead the State through the path to more successes.

Obasa also hailed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as he clocks 59.

Obasa congratulated Gbajabiamila for ensuring a rancour-free House of Representatives.

“Your effective leadership of the House of Representatives has helped in no small measure to strengthen democracy in the country.

“I congratulate you and wish you many more years in good health,” the statement read.

Henry Okosun, Managing director of Abadat Ventures, the company belonging to Dr. AbdulFatai Buhari, senator representing Oyo North senatorial district, has reacted to the reported seizure of some of his Abuja properties by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria,

According to him, AMCON was wrong, neither him nor his company sought any loan.

In statement, Okosun said it was an attempt to blackmail his boss as what really happened was a tripartite agreement between Abadat, Guaranty Trust Bank and Peugeot entered into in 2007.

According to him, “I am privy to this case from the beginning. Abadat, Peugeot and GTB entered into a tripartite agreement whereby Abadat as a dealer with Peugeot would collect a vehicle on credit and GTB would guarantee the credit for one month at 18 per cent. Abadat did not take a loan from GTB as widely reported.

“And when we discovered that GTB was clandestinely charging us 30 per cent, we requested for our statements which they refused to give to us in 2009. When we eventually got the statements through AMCON ‘s intervention, we discovered a lot of foul play through the forensic audit that was carried out. GTB is the one owing Abadat according to the audit report. And we went to court and the case is still in court with AMCON and GTB still sending their lawyers anytime there is a court sitting. What AMCON did was a blackmail against the senator,” he explained.

Also speaking, lawyer to the Ogbomoso-born politician, Ahmed Raji, SAN, said his client’s assets have not been taken over by AMCON.

“It is not correct that AMCON has taken over Senator Buhari’s assets in Abuja. There is a subsisting suit on the matter since 2013 and no judgement has been rendered. Self help is not allowed just as suppression of facts is deprecated in our judicial system. The court will very shortly reaffirm its sacred authority over all persons and authorities. We are all under the law,” he explained.

In continuation of her efforts to get all strata of the society involved in its security efforts, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, the Commissioner For Information, Culture and Tourism, has held a meeting with Traditional Worshippers in Oyo State.

During the meeting, Dr Olatunbosun urged the traditionalists to partner with the government to ensure security and peaceful coexistence and also involve themselves in the joint effort to end insecurity in Oyo State.

He further assured the traditional worshippers that Governor Seyi Makinde had heard their pleas for a public holiday and was working on it.

His words, “I wish to inform you that work is ongoing on the approval of a special holiday for traditional worshippers in Oyo State, it is a long process that must go through legislation, executive assent and State gazette, the government is working on this and we need your continuous collaboration to make Oyo State more harmonious and attractive to investors.”

“We need to involve you our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters in the traditional religion in putting an end to insecurity in the State, we are using this opportunity to urge you to do all you can, including making spiritual appeasements, sacrifices to ensure and maintain peace in our State.”

“In the old, our forefathers had ways of overcoming insecurity, we need to go back and adopt some of these methods to make our land habitable, to make Oyo State the pride of other States and attract investors to bring their businesses, which in turn multiply employment opportunities and improve commercial activities.”

Governor Seyi Makinde’s Executive Assistant on Administration, Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe was also at the event and he called for the traditionalists to continue their support for the current Oyo State Administration so that the good work started by the government would continue.

Speaking on behalf of the traditionalists, the Aare Isese of Oyo State, Aare Omikunmi Egbelade, the Chairman, Asa Orisa of Nigeria, Chief Oke Adejare and Oba Ela of Oyo State, Oba Ojebode Awoniran, jointly called on the State government to make funds available for the three major religion bodies so that they could combat the insecurity in Oyo State spiritually.

The trio urged Governor Seyi Makinde to ensure that his administration accords traditionalists more recognition by approving the public holiday they had requested and promised their staunch support for this administration.

Dr Olatunbosun has earlier met with artisans as part of efforts to mobilise the grassroots to see themselves as part of the state’s security architecture.

The umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, has endorsed the ongoing petition being pushed by the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS), which urged the Federal Government to conduct a referendum in Igbo and Yoruba lands.

In a statement signed by the leader of the Yoruba nation agitators, Prof. Banji Akintoye, and made available to The Guardian, yesterday, by his Communications Manager, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, Nigerians, especially Yoruba people within and beyond the shores of the country, were asked to sign the petition to support the agitation for a referendum.

Akintoye, who is also the Chairman of NINAS, described the petition as the first major step towards the conduct of a referendum that would make or mar the actualisation of the sovereign Yoruba nation from Nigeria.

The statement stated: “We the Yoruba people must now move forward to accomplish the Yoruba nation’s self-determination by holding a referendum.

Akintoye, who is also the Chairman of NINAS, described the petition as the first major step towards the conduct of a referendum that would make or mar the actualisation of the sovereign Yoruba nation from Nigeria.

The statement stated: “We the Yoruba people must now move forward to accomplish the Yoruba nation’s self-determination by holding a referendum.

It added: “Already, some patriots under the umbrella of NINAS have now started to circulate a petition that we Yoruba, Igbo, Niger/Delta and Middle Belt want a referendum.

“I urge all the millions of Yoruba people within and beyond Nigeria to vote in support of that petition. However, the chances are that the Federal Government will answer no.

“Alternatively, we might take our petition to the state governments and demand that they should grant us a referendum. Since the state governments are our own elected governments, we have a much better chance to compel them to do what we want. What we need is to mount intense pressure on them. We must not take no for answer.

“Finally, we can take our petition to the United Nations and demand they come and arrange the referendum.”