The Nigerian Government has clarified that the United Kingdom is not in support of Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho ‘s push for Yoruba Nation.
Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors Eche Abu-Obe, on Tuesday, in a release on Tuesday, noted the media publication on the petition “were highly misleading”
He said that “Following media reports on the petition submitted at No. 10 Downing Street by Mr Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho, the British High Commissioner in Abuja was invited to shed light on the issue.
“During the meeting, the High Commissioner noted with concern that the matter was overblown, indicating that the media reports were highly misleading.
“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.”
Accordding to Abu-Obe, the High Commissioner disclosed that the UK parliament had rejected Yoruba Nation petition.
He also emphasised the existing bilateral relations between Nigeria and United Kingdom.
Recall that Igboho’s media aide, Olayomi Koiki, in a post on Sunday via his X account confirmed that his principal submitted a petition to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, to consider the creation of a Yoruba nation.
He added that the petition was submitted at the behest of the acclaimed leader of the Yoruba Nation Movement, Prof. Adebanji Akintoye.
He wrote in his X post, “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.”
Lanre Idris Mustapha
