“Britain is saying your future is in your hands”
By Omolade Adegbuyi
The British Government did not in anyway reject the request for Oodua Republic submitted by a group of Yoruba people led by Chief Sunday Adeyemo, alias Igboho.
Irohinoodua was informed by diplomats who spoke to our correspondents. They insist that the response from Brittain was “normal standards” in diplomatic relations.
One of the diplomat who served in Western Europe said “It is poor understanding to say that Britain rejected the request for O’odua Republic. In the first place, the sovereignty of any ethnic group in Nigeria does not lay in the hands of the United Kingdom. Nigeria got independence in 1960. By 1963, Nigerian untied the cord with the Privy Council. Britain is not the custodian of Yoruba Nation or any other ethnic nation in Nigeria and has no right to grant anything or reject anything concerning ethnic self determination” the top Yoruba diplomat and former Ambassador told Irohinoodua.
The former Envoy who does not wish to be named said what Brittain was telling Yoruba people was that their future is in their hands.
“It’s poor judgment to say Britain rejected the request for Yoruba Nation. How can a country reject or accept something the country lacks presiding authority.? Britain is cuny and crafty and would reject what she wanted and accept what she would later reject. The future of Yoruba people is in their hands not in the hands of Britain,” the diplomat said.
Another Western diplomat who spoke to Irohinoodua but does not wish to be named said “what Brittain meant is that she cannot interfere in Nigerian internal affairs but that only the people can determine their own future.
He said the letter has raised awareness in Britain about Yoruba self determination.
He said The experts said Britain was merely interpreting the principle of international law which emphasized the concept of non-intervention which prohibits of the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state as indicated in Article 2.4 of the Charter on international law.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery on Tuesday had said that the petitions concerning the sovereign affairs of another country are not a matter for the UK government.
Montgomery “The delivery merely reflected an established practice of allowing the delivery of letters and petitions to No10.”
The Ambassador also said Britain would continue to respect the sovereignty of Nigeria.
