The government of United Kingdom has outrightly rejected the petition submitted by Yourba separatist leader, Mr Sunday Igboho, calling for support for the establishment of ‘Yoruba Nation’.
The abrupt rejection was disclosed by Eche Abu-Obe, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Tuesday.
He said the United Kingdom authorities does not get involved in petitions concerning the sovereign affairs of another country hence the petition was not endorsed.
“Following media reports on the petition submitted at No. 10 Downing Street by Mr Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho, the British High Commissioner in Abuja was invited to shed light on the issue.
“During the meeting, the High Commissioner noted with concern that the matter was overblown, indicating that the media reports were highly misleading.
“Furthermore, the High Commissioner informed that 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 nor the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee.
“The UK government typically does not concern itself with petitions concerning the sovereign affairs of another country,” Abu-Obe said.
The spokesman quoted the high commissioner to have said that such petitions had been rejected by the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee and the UK Government in the past.
