According to the Federal Government, the UK government did not support Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, also referred to as “Sunday Igboho,” an agitator for the Yoruba nation, in his petition urging the UK to take the Yoruba nation into consideration.
In a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, the ministry’s spokesperson, claimed that the media’s portrayal of the petition “were highly misleading.”
“The British High Commissioner in Abuja was invited to shed light on the issue following media reports on the petition submitted at No. 10 Downing Street by Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho,” he clarified.
“The High Commissioner expressed concern during the meeting that the issue was exaggerated and that the media reports were incredibly deceptive.
In addition, the High Commissioner stated that he was aware that the letter had been delivered, but he also clarified that this was just the custom of accepting letter and petition deliveries to No. 10.
Neither the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee nor any agency of the UK government supported it.
“Generally, petitions pertaining to another nation’s sovereign affairs are of no concern to the UK government.”
He cited the high commissioner as saying that the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee and the UK Government had previously turned down similar petitions.
He also reaffirmed the significance of the bilateral ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom and promised to keep in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as needed.
Recall that Igboho, through his spokesman Olayomi Koiki, posted on Sunday via his X handle, requesting that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer take into consideration the formation of a Yoruba nation.
He claimed that Igboho filed the petition on behalf of Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, the movement’s leader, the Yoruba Nation.
“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,” the article stated. It was written at precisely 14:00 hours.