UK rejects Sunday Igboho’s Yoruba nation petition, FG clarifies

October 15, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Federal Government has debunked reports that the United Kingdom endorsed Sunday Igboho’s petition for Yoruba nationhood.

According to Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, media reports on the petition were “highly misleading”.

He explained that “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.”

However, It turns out that the UK Government didn’t support Igboho’s petition, which was submitted to consider the Yoruba nation.

The British High Commissioner in Abuja confirmed that the petition was merely received as part of an established practice, but not endorsed by any UK government agency or the Parliamentary Petitions Committee .

Sunday Igboho, a Yoruba nation agitator, had submitted the petition on behalf of Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, leader of the Yoruba Nation movement. The petition was delivered to the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at 10 Downing Street.