The Federal Government has clarified that the petition by Yoruba nation agitator Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, also known as “Sunday Igboho,” urging the United Kingdom to consider the Yoruba nation, was not officially endorsed by the UK government.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, it was highlighted that media reports regarding the petition were “highly misleading.”
Abu-Obe stated, “Following media reports on the petition submitted at No. 10 Downing Street by Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, the British High Commissioner in Abuja was invited to provide clarity on the issue. The High Commissioner expressed concern, noting that the matter was overblown and that media reports were highly misleading.”
The High Commissioner explained that although the petition was delivered, this act merely followed the established practice of allowing letter and petition submissions to No. 10 Downing Street. It was not endorsed by any UK government agency or the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee.
He further emphasized that the UK government typically refrains from engaging in petitions related to the sovereign matters of other countries. Past petitions similar in nature have been dismissed by the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee.
The High Commissioner also reaffirmed the importance of UK-Nigeria bilateral relations and pledged to maintain ongoing communication with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sunday Igboho’s spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki, confirmed via social media that the petition had been submitted on behalf of Yoruba Nation leader, Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
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