The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has denied that the United Kingdom endorsed a petition submitted at 10 Downing Street by Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho.
Stating that the delivery of the petition merely reflected an established practice of allowing the delivery of letters and petitions to No 10, the British High Commission in Abuja, in a statement issued on X yesterday (Tuesday, October 15), while acknowledging the concern of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the press coverage of Igboho’s petition submission to No 10 Downing Street, assured that that does not mean that the UK endorsed it.
“The High Commissioner was pleased to discuss this issue with the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs on 14th October 2024. He noted the Honourable Minister’s concern and understood that press reports were misleading.
“The High Commissioner reassured the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs that the petition was in no way endorsed by any official body of the UK government or the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee,” the British High Commission said.
The High Commission said the delivery merely reflected an established practice of allowing the delivery of letters and petitions to No 10.
“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 High Commissioner reiterated the importance of the bilateral partnership between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He noted bilateral progress on a range of issues with the present administration of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, and particularly new agreements on enhanced trade and investment, security and defence, and home affairs. He renewed his assurances of highest regards for the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the British High Commission also said.
