The UK government did not support the petition that Yoruba nation agitator Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, also known as “Sunday Igboho,” submitted requesting that the UK take the Yoruba nation into consideration.
In a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesperson, claimed that media coverage of the petition “were highly misleading.”
He clarified that the British High Commissioner in Abuja was asked to provide clarification on the matter after media outlets covered the appeal that Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, had filed at No. 10 Downing Street.
“The High Commissioner expressed concern at the discussion that the issue was exaggerated, suggesting that the media coverage was extremely deceptive.
“Furthermore, the High Commissioner informed that he was aware of the letter being delivered but added that it was merely an established practice of allowing the delivery of letters and petitions to No. 10.
“It was not endorsed by any agency of the UK government nor the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee.
“The UK government typically does not concern itself with petitions concerning the sovereign affairs of another country.”
He cited the high commissioner as saying that the UK Government and the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee had previously denied similar petitions.
He also reiterated the significance of the bilateral ties between the UK and Nigeria and committed to keeping in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as needed.
In a post on Sunday on his X Twitter, Senator Igboho’s spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki, stated that he had petitioned British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take into consideration the establishment of a Yoruba nation.
According to him, Igboho filed the suit on behalf of Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, the leader of the Yoruba Nation movement.
He wrote, “At exactly 14:00 hrs Dr. Chief Sunday Igboho delivered a petition to the UK Prime Minister on behalf of Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, leader of the YORUBA NATION movement, and Olayomi Koiki, his spokesman @10DowningStreet.”
