The Federal Government stated on Tuesday that the petition submitted by Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as “Sunday Igboho,” urging the United Kingdom to consider recognizing the Yoruba nation, was not supported by the UK government.
In a statement, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, referred to media reports on the petition as “highly misleading.”
“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,” he said.
“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.”
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria 🇳🇬 (@NigeriaMFA) October 15, 2024
Abu-Obe highlighted that the High Commissioner clarified similar petitions had previously been dismissed by the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee and the UK Government.
He added that the British envoy expressed a commitment to maintaining communication with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as necessary, while emphasizing the significance of the strong bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and Nigeria.