British High Commissioner Responds To Press Coverage On Yoruba Nation Petition.
Richard Montgomery, CMG, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, has addressed recent press coverage regarding a Yoruba Nation petition submitted to the UK government. The petition, delivered to No. 10 Downing Street by Nigerian national Sunday Adeyemo, has sparked interest, leading to a statement from the UK High Commission in Abuja.
In his statement, Montgomery acknowledged the 15th October 2024 press release issued by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He discussed the matter with Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs on 14th October 2024, recognising concerns over potentially misleading press reports.
Montgomery clarified that the submission of the petition was not endorsed by any official UK government body or the UK Parliamentary Petitions Committee. He emphasised that the delivery of such petitions merely followed established protocol, without reflecting any official support.
The High Commissioner further stressed that any petition related to the sovereign affairs of another nation is beyond the remit of the UK government. Such matters, he noted, are for the government and legislature of Nigeria. Montgomery reminded the public that similar petitions have previously been rejected by both the UK government and the Parliamentary Petitions Committee.
Montgomery reassured the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs that the British High Commission would maintain open lines of communication with the Nigerian government as needed. He also reiterated the importance of the strong bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and Nigeria, highlighting recent progress in trade, investment, security, and defence under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The High Commissioner concluded by reaffirming his respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and his commitment to further cooperation between the two nations.
