The Federal Government has refuted the claims that the government of the United Kingdom (UK) endorsed the petition by Yoruba nation agitator, Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, News About Nigeria reports.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
He noted that the media reports on the petition were highly misleading, adding that the matter was overblown.
Abu-Obe stated that according to the high commissioner, such petitions had been rejected by the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee and the UK Government in the past.
He further 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 Nigeria.
He said, “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.”
Recall that Igboho, according to his spokesman, Olayomi Koiki, submitted a petition to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, to consider the creation of a Yoruba nation.
He stated that Igboho submitted the petition on behalf of the leader of the Yoruba Nation movement, Prof. Adebanji Akintoye.
