‘It’s not a UK matter’ — British envoy speaks on Sunday Igboho’s petition

Richard Montgomery, the British high commissioner in Nigeria, says petitions on sovereign affairs of another country do not fall under the UK’s jurisdiction. 

On Sunday, Igboho submitted a petition to the UK government on behalf of Adebanji Akintoye, leader of the Yoruba Nation movement.

The content of the petition is not known, but Igboho is believed to have sought the support of the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the establishment of the Yoruba Nation.

Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson of the ministry of foreign affairs, said the British high commissioner was invited to shed light on Igboho’s visit.

In a statement 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 statement reads.

“The High Commissioner noted that any petition concerning the sovereign affairs of another country are 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.”

He reiterated the importance of the bilateral relations between his country and 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,” the statement adds.

“He renewed his assurances of highest regards for the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”