FG Summons High Commissioner Over Yoruba Nation’s Petition To UK Government

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government has summoned the British High Commissioner in Nigeria over the petition by Yoruba Nation agitator, Mr Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as “Sunday Igboho”, calling on the United Kingdom, (UK) to consider the Yoruba nation request.

Government stated that the petition was just an ordinary mail which was not endorsed by the UK government.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through it’s spokesperson,  Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, explained in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, that media reports on the petition “were highly misleading.”

According to him, “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 at 10 DowningStreet.

“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.”

He quoted the high commissioner to have informed that 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.

Igboho, according to his spokesman, Olayomi Koiki, in a post on Sunday via his X handle 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.

He wrote, “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.