The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a summon against the British High Commissioner over the recent visit of Oduduwa Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, to 10 Downing Street to submit a petition.
Igboho submitted the petition on behalf of Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, the leader of the Yoruba Nation movement.
The movement is seeking the immediate intervention of the UK Prime Minister and his government in their agitation to set up a country that will be predominantly owned by indigenous Yoruba people
This was made known in a statement signed by Amb. Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday, October 15.
According to the statement, the High Commissioner, during the meeting, acknowledged the alarm generated by the petition but stated that reports have been highly misleading.
Confirming the delivery of the letter, the High Commissioner explained that it falls under an established practice allowing petitions and letters to be submitted to No. 10.
While stating that the UK government and the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee did not endorse the petition, the High Commissioner reiterated the UK government’s policy of not interfering with the sovereign affairs of other nations.
He noted that similar petitions have been rejected by the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee and the UK Government in the past.
The statement read: “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 parlay, 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 No 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.”
