October 15, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has dismissed fears over any impact of the petition submitted to the United Kingdom government by Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho.
In an X post on Sunday, Olayomi Koiki, Spokesman for Igboho, disclosed that Igboho submitted a petition to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, to consider the creation of a Yoruba nation.
Stressing that Igboho submitted the petition on behalf of the leader of the Yoruba Nation Movement, Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, 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.”
Reacting on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement issued by its spokesman, Eche Abu-Obe, said the Federal Government summoned the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, who explained that the UK government has not endorsed the petition.
The statement reads: “Following media reports on the petition submitted at 10 Downing Street by Mr Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, The British High Commissioner in Abuja was invited to shed light on the issue.
“During the parlay, the High Commissioner noted the concern that the matter had generated, indicating that the press reports were highly misleading.
“Furthermore, the High Commissioner informed 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 or the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee.
“The High Commissioner noted that the UK government typically does not concern itself with petitions concerning the sovereign affairs of another country.
“He informed us that such petitions had been rejected by the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee and the UK Government in the past.
“In this regard, He agreed to continue liaising with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as needed, while reiterating the importance of the bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
