By Milcah Tanimu
The Federal Government of Nigeria has addressed the concerns surrounding Sunday Igboho’s petition to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which he submitted at 10 Downing Street.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it invited the British High Commissioner in Abuja for clarification regarding the matter. According to Amb. Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson for the Ministry, this meeting was crucial to address the alarm generated by the petition.
During the meeting, the High Commissioner acknowledged the concerns but labeled press reports as misleading. He confirmed awareness of the petition’s delivery, explaining that it follows the standard procedure for submitting petitions to No. 10.
However, the High Commissioner emphasized that the UK government and the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee did not endorse Igboho’s petition. He reiterated the UK government’s long-standing policy of non-interference in the sovereign affairs of other nations. Furthermore, he pointed out that similar petitions had been rejected in the past by both the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee and the UK Government.
Sunday Igboho, a prominent advocate for the Yoruba Nation, submitted the petition on October 12, 2024, urging the UK Prime Minister to consider the Yoruba Nation’s bid for self-determination.
