The Federal Government has summoned the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, over a petition submitted at 10, Downing Street, by Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement in Abuja by its spokesperson, Eche Abu-Obe.
Igboho was reported to have submitted a petition demanding the creation of Yoruba nation to the British government on behalf of the leader of the Yoruba Nation Movement, Adebanji Akintoye.
The government said: “Following media reports on the petition submitted at 10, Downing Street by 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 media reports were highly misleading.
“Furthermore, the high commissioner informed he was aware of the letter being delivered but added 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 government also said the British High Commissioner said the UK government typically does not concern itself with petitions concerning the sovereign affairs of another country.
“He informed us 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,” the government further said.
Meanwhile, in a statement he issued on Tuesday, Montgomery said he was pleased to have met with the minister to discuss the matter.
The high commissioner said he reassured the minister that the document was not endorsed by any official body of the UK government or the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee.
”The delivery merely reflected an established practice of allowing the delivery of letters and petitions to No10. The High Commissioner noted that any petition concerning the sovereign affairs of another country is not a matter for the UK government.
“The High Commissioner underscored that this is a matter for the government and legislature of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and noted that similar petitions had been rejected by the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee and the UK government in the past.
“The High Commissioner agreed to continue liaising with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as needed,” the statement reads.
He further reiterated the importance of bilateral relations, investment, security and defence, and home affairs between his country and Nigeria.