The United Kingdom has clarified that a petition regarding the Yoruba Nation movement, submitted by activist Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, is not a matter for the UK government, but rather for Nigeria’s government and legislative bodies.
UK High Commissioner Richard Montgomery made this statement in response to Igboho’s petition, which was delivered to the office of the UK Prime Minister in London. The petition seeks international support for the creation of a Yoruba Sovereign Nation.
Montgomery emphasized that issues concerning the sovereignty of another country are not within the UK government’s jurisdiction. He also noted that similar petitions had previously been dismissed by the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee and the government, underscoring that such matters are for the Nigerian government to address.
In his statement, Montgomery reassured Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs that Igboho’s petition had not been endorsed by any official body in the UK, including the UK Parliament or its petitions committee.
He explained that the acceptance of the petition was simply part of standard protocol for receiving letters and petitions at the Prime Minister’s office and does not signify UK government involvement.
The High Commissioner reiterated, “This is an internal matter for the government and legislature of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
