Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, commonly known as Sunday Igboho, has formally submitted a petition to the UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, advocating for the creation of a Yoruba nation. This significant move comes amid ongoing tensions regarding the desire for self-determination among the Yoruba people in Nigeria.
According to reports, Igboho submitted the petition on behalf of Professor Adebanji Akintoye, the leader of the Yoruba Nation movement. The petition is part of a broader effort by the movement to gain international support for their quest to establish a country predominantly for the Yoruba people, emphasizing their right to self-governance and cultural identity. The movement seeks to bring attention to their cause on the global stage, appealing to foreign governments to consider their aspirations seriously.[/p>
The development was disclosed by Igboho’s spokesman, Koiki, via his X page on Sunday. He wrote: “At exactly 14:00 hrs Dr. Chief Sunday Igboho delivered a petition to the UK Prime Minister on behalf of Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, leader of the YORUBA NATION movement, and Olayomi Koiki, his spokesman @10DowningStreet.” This statement highlights the formal nature of the petition and the seriousness with which the Yoruba Nation movement is approaching its cause.
Igboho has been at the forefront of the actualization of a Yoruba nation, often rallying support and mobilizing people towards this goal. Recall that Akintoye had previously accused the Nigerian government of trying to cajole Igboho into withdrawing from the agitations for Yoruba independence. The octogenarian leader of the movement expressed concerns that the government was employing tactics to undermine their cause.
During the agitator’s travails in the Benin Republic, a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), allegedly used his influence as an envoy to sneak a paper to Igboho in prison. This document reportedly promised him billions of naira if only he would renounce his agitations for a Yoruba nation. However, Akintoye stated that Igboho refused to sign the paper, which was later taken away by Buratai, underscoring Igboho's steadfast commitment to the cause despite pressure and temptation from powerful figures within the Nigerian government.[/p>