From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Facts have emerged on how the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, led to the withdrawal of a suit instituted by Aare Afe Babalola against Dele Farotimi, a human rights lawyer and activist.
A statement by the Director of Media and Public Affairs of the Ooni’s palace, Moses Olafare, on Monday, explained how the Ooni and some traditional rulers in Ekiti State went to Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Ado Ekiti, on Sunday night, to plead with Babalola to withdraw the court case against Farotimi.
According to the statement, Ooni Ogunwusi arrived in Ado Ekiti at about 10:08 pm on Sunday, where he was received by Afe Babalola, accompanied by the Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Professor Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde, Bursar Pastor Joseph Modupe Babalola, PRO, Deans of various faculties, and the legal team handling the case against Farotimi.
Ooni, who was accompanied by the Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adewole Joseph Adebayo, the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adejinmi Adu, Alaaye of Efon Alaaye, Oba Dr. Emmanuel Aladejare Agunsoye II, and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti (who also serves as Chairman of the Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers), Oba Ilori Faboro, was said to have held a closed-door meeting with Afe Babalola.
“We have come today to appeal to Aare Babalola to forgive his son, Dele Farotimi, and what we want from him is to withdraw the criminal charges against Farotimi today.
“Aare Afe Babalola, you are an elder statesman; you have seen it all. You are one of the iconic voices in this country, a great man par excellence, a rare breed who has excelled in everything you have touched in life, a very God-fearing elder statesman, and above all, you are one of the proponents of the Yoruba ethos of Omoluwabi, which has been your strongest value.
“This is what we are using to bring down the tension in what has happened between you and your son, Dele Farotimi. We have all been proud of you as a great Yoruba elder statesman. You have done great things for this race and Nigeria, such that your name can never be forgotten.
“We’ve all come together as traditional rulers to discuss with you on this issue, and this gentleman, Dele Farotimi, is your son, and you must forgive him and withdraw the criminal charges against him. As a father, you have soft sons, and you have tough sons; Dele Farotimi is a tough son of yours. You have indeed made a point that your name cannot be messed with,” the statement quoted the monarchs as saying.
In his response, Afe Babalola said he must honour the traditional rulers as a child brought up with tradition. He promised that he had not only forgiven Dele Farotimi but would also instruct his lawyers to withdraw the criminal charges against him with immediate effect.
“Today is a very important day for me; I’m a Yoruba man, and I’m very proud to be one. The Ewi of Ado has come here to meet me on this matter, former President Obasanjo has intervened, as has Bishop Matthew Kukah and a host of other prominent Nigerians, to ask for the exact thing you have come to ask for this evening. My answer to them has been ‘NO,’ but today my answer is ‘YES,’” Babalola was quoted as saying.