Prominent Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Igboho, has formally submitted a petition to the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, requesting the British government’s intervention in the creation of a sovereign Yoruba nation. Igboho presented the petition on behalf of Professor Adebanji Akintoye, the leader of the Yoruba Nation movement.
The petition, aimed at garnering international support, calls for the establishment of a country predominantly for the indigenous Yoruba people. This development was made public by Igboho’s spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki, through a post on the social media platform X on Monday. He shared that Igboho had delivered the petition at 10 Downing Street, the UK Prime Minister’s official residence, stating, “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.”
Sunday Igboho has been a central figure in the Yoruba self-determination movement, advocating for the secession of the Yoruba people from Nigeria. His petition marks another significant step in the ongoing push for the actualization of a Yoruba nation.
Professor Akintoye, a key figure in the movement, has previously claimed that Nigerian authorities have attempted to pressure Igboho into abandoning the cause. Akintoye recounted an incident involving Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), during Igboho’s detention in Benin Republic. According to Akintoye, Buratai allegedly offered Igboho billions of naira in exchange for his renouncement of the Yoruba Nation struggle, an offer Igboho reportedly declined.
Akintoye explained, “Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, came to him in the prison, promising him billions of naira if he would just sign a paper that Buratai brought, saying he had renounced the Yoruba Nation struggle.” Despite the offer, Igboho refused to sign the document, continuing his pursuit of Yoruba independence.
