The Federal Government has clarified that the petition submitted by Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, calling on the United Kingdom to consider the Yoruba nation, was not endorsed by the UK government.
In a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, addressed media reports surrounding the petition, describing them as “highly misleading.” He explained that the British High Commissioner in Abuja was summoned to clarify the situation.
During the meeting, the High Commissioner expressed concern over the exaggerated media reports, confirming that while the petition had indeed been delivered to No. 10 Downing Street, it was not backed by any UK government body or the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee. He emphasized that receiving such letters is standard practice but does not indicate government endorsement.
The High Commissioner also pointed out that the UK government typically refrains from engaging in petitions related to the internal affairs of sovereign nations, noting that similar petitions had been previously rejected by the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee.
The Ministry and the UK government agreed to continue diplomatic engagements while reinforcing the importance of strong bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
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This comes after Sunday Igboho’s spokesman, Olayomi Koiki, shared on social media that Igboho had delivered the petition on behalf of Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, leader of the Yoruba Nation movement, to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street.
“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,” he posted.
Yoruba nation activists, Prof. Adebanji Akintoye and Sunday Igboho, have been key figures in the push for the actualization of an independent Yoruba state.
In July 2021, Igboho was arrested alongside his wife, Ropo, in Cotonou, Benin Republic, after fleeing Nigeria. His arrest came following a raid on his residence in Ibadan by the Department of State Services on July 1, 2021. The DSS accused Igboho of stockpiling weapons and declared him wanted.
After being arraigned at the Court D’Apeal in Cotonou, Igboho was detained in a Benin Republic prison. He was eventually released in 2023, after spending nearly two years in custody.
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