SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that Igboho submitted the petition to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer to consider the secessionist movement in Nigeria.
The United Kingdom has reacted to a petition submitted by a Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, more commonly known as Sunday Igboho, which was taken to the Prime Minister's office in London.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that Igboho submitted the petition to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer to consider the secessionist movement in Nigeria.
Although the movement described the content of the petition as confidential, SaharaReporters had gathered that it revolved around the "Yoruba Nation agitation."
SaharaReporters had learnt further that the Yoruba Nation advocate submitted the petition on Saturday on behalf of Prof Adebanji Akintoye, the leader of the Yoruba Nation movement.
SaharaReporters also saw that other dignitaries who accompanied Igboho were; Diaspora Youth Leader, Prophet Ologunoluwa, Vice President of Ifeladun Apapo, Fatai Ogunribido, General Secretary of Yoruba World Media, Alhaja Adeyeye, and Member of Yoruba Nation Movement, Paul Odebiyi.
The movement is seeking the immediate intervention of the UK prime minister and his government on their agitation to set up a country that will be predominantly owned by indigenous people of Yoruba.
Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement that the British High Commissioner in Abuja was invited to clarify the matter.
The High Commissioner explained that the letter was received merely as part of an established practice allowing delivery of letters and petitions to No 10 Downing Street.
He added, “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,” Abu-Obe quoted the High Commissioner as saying.
Abu-Obe concluded by stating that the UK High Commissioner agreed to continue liaising with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressing the importance of maintaining bilateral relations between the two countries.