Kehinde Fajobi
The Federal Government has dismissed reports suggesting that a petition by Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, was endorsed by the UK government.
The petition, which urged the UK to consider recognising the Yoruba nation, was delivered to No. 10 Downing Street but has not received official support.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described the media coverage of 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,” Abu-Obe said.
During the meeting, the British High Commissioner clarified that while the letter had been delivered, it was simply part of an established process for receiving letters and petitions at Downing Street.
“It was not endorsed by any agency of the UK government nor the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee,” Abu-Obe added.
He further emphasised that the UK government does not typically involve itself in petitions concerning the internal affairs of another country. The High Commissioner also noted that similar petitions had been rejected by the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee in the past.
The statement concluded by reaffirming the importance of the diplomatic relationship between the UK and Nigeria, with both parties agreeing to maintain open communication on such matters.