By Sodeeq Kamsela
Hope brightens for a peaceful resolution of the legal tussle between Aare Afe Babalola and human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi, as the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, wades into the conflict.
The Ooni, along with prominent Yoruba traditional rulers in Ekiti State, visited Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) over the weekend to appeal to the university’s founder to forgive the human rights activist.
Naija Daily News recalls that the erudite lawyer and ABUAD founder had dragged Farotimi to court over alleged libellous parts of the activist’s book, in which Farotimi claimed that Babalola bribed Supreme Court judges.
Farotimi was subsequently arrested in Lagos and brought to Ekiti, where he was detained for several weeks before being granted bail.
A statement by Otunba Moses Olafare, Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s palace, said that Babalola, who had earlier spurned interventions from prominent Nigerians and other Yoruba leaders, promised to direct his legal team to discontinue the suit.
The statement noted that Ooni Ogunwusi arrived in Ado Ekiti around 10:08 PM, where he met with Afe Babalola and the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde; Bursar Pastor Joseph Modupe Babalola; the school’s PRO; deans of various faculties; and the legal team handling Farotimi’s case.
In her welcome speech, the VC acknowledged the Ooni’s love for the school’s founder and institution, describing ABUAD as one of Africa’s leading universities.
“We have come today to appeal to Aare Babalola to forgive his son, Dele Farotimi, and withdraw the criminal charges against him,” said the Ooni.
“Aare Afe Babalola, you are an elder statesman, a rare breed who has excelled in everything you have touched. You are a proponent of the Yoruba ethos of Omoluwabi, which has been your strongest value. We are proud of you as a great Yoruba elder statesman. You have done great things for this race and Nigeria, and your name will never be forgotten,” the Ooni added.
Aare Afe Babalola responded positively to the request, stating that he had grown up understanding such interventions by traditional rulers. He declared that he had forgiven Dele Farotimi and would instruct his lawyers to withdraw the criminal charges against him immediately, out of respect for the Ooni and the other Obas.
“Today is a very important day for me. I am a proud Yoruba man. The Ewi of Ado, former President Obasanjo, Bishop Matthew Kukah, and other prominent Nigerians have asked for the same thing, but my answer was ‘NO.’
“Today, my answer is ‘YES.’ Your (Ooni’s) coming is invaluable. When the colonialists came here in the 17th century, they found Yoruba land to be a highly organized society with advanced systems of government. The words of an Oba were commands.”
Aare Babalola concluded with a Yoruba adage, which translates to: “Those who change the world for the better do not wait to respond to criticism.” He emphasized that he did not want to be a meadow by the riverside that disobeyed the flood.
