The Federal Government has clarified that a petition submitted by Yoruba nation agitator, Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, to the United Kingdom does not have the endorsement of the British government.
The petition, which called on the UK to consider the establishment of a Yoruba nation, was misrepresented in media reports, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to The PUNCH, in a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday, the ministry’s spokesperson, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, emphasized that the media reports regarding the petition were “highly misleading.”
He explained that the British High Commissioner in Abuja had been summoned to clarify the matter following the circulation of these reports.
Ambassador Abu-Obe detailed the High Commissioner’s response, noting, “During the meeting, the High Commissioner expressed concern that the issue was exaggerated, indicating that the media coverage was largely inaccurate.”
The High Commissioner confirmed awareness of the petition’s delivery but clarified that it was simply part of a long-standing protocol allowing the submission of letters and petitions to No. 10 Downing Street.
“It was not endorsed by any agency of the UK government nor the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee,” the High Commissioner stated, as relayed by Abu-Obe. The UK government, he added, does not typically engage with petitions that pertain to the internal affairs of sovereign nations. In fact, similar petitions, according to the High Commissioner, have been dismissed by the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee and rejected by the UK government in the past.
Despite this, the UK diplomat agreed to maintain open communication with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirming the strong diplomatic relationship between the United Kingdom and Nigeria.
The controversy arose after Sunday Igboho’s spokesman, Olayomi Koiki, shared a post on Sunday via his X account, revealing that Igboho had submitted a petition to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The petition, delivered at No. 10 Downing Street, urged the British government to consider the Yoruba nation cause.
According to Koiki, the petition was submitted on behalf of Professor Adebanji Akintoye, leader of the Yoruba Nation movement.
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.”
This petition has sparked significant debate, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ clarification now highlights the limitations of such petitions, especially when it comes to international diplomacy.
