The British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has said the letter of agitation for an independent Yoruba nation submitted at 10 Downing Street by Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) was not endorsed by any United Kingdom (UK) Government agency or Parliament Committee.
The Yoruba nation agitator, leading a delegation of top Yoruba nation separatists, submitted a petition to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, on the decision of the secessionist movement in Nigeria to break away and form an independent nation.
10 Downing Street is the official residence and office of the British Prime Minister in London.
A viral video which emerged on Sunday morning showed the secessionist delegation being cleared to enter the residence and another photograph of the group outside the 10 Downing Street.
In addition, Igboho’s aide, Olayomi Koiki, announced the submission of the petition in a post on Sunday via his X handle.
He said Igboho submitted the petition on behalf of the leader of the Yoruba Nation movement, Professor Adebanji Akintoye.
But a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the British envoy downplayed the significance of the receipt of the letter, saying it was done as mere formality.
The High Commissioner, the statement said, clarified the issue when he was invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Saying that the report in the media about being received at 10 Downing Street was misleading, the High Commissioner stressed that the UK government typically does not concern itself with petitions concerning the sovereign affairs of another country.
The statement by spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, reads: “Following media reports on the petition submitted at 10 Downing Street by Mr. Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, The British High Commissioner in Abuja was invited to shed light on the issue.
“During the parley, the High Commissioner noted the concern that the matter had generated, indicating that the press reports were highly misleading…”
“Furthermore, the High Commissioner informed 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 Number 10. It was not endorsed by any agency of the UK Government or the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee.
“The High Commissioner noted that the UK government typically does not concern itself with petitions concerning the sovereign affairs of another country.
“He informed that such petitions had been rejected by the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee and the UK Government in the past.
“In this regard, he agreed to continue liaising with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as needed, while reiterating the importance of the bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
