Ola Akinwunmi
In a significant intervention, the Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has successfully brokered peace between renowned lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, and human rights activist Dele Farotimi.
The Ooni, accompanied by several prominent Yoruba traditional rulers, including the Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, and the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adejinmi Adu, met with Afe Babalola at the Afe Babalola University in Ado Ekiti.
During the meeting, the Ooni appealed to Afe Babalola to forgive Farotimi and withdraw the ongoing criminal case against him. Afe Babalola, in response, accepted the Ooni’s request, stating that he had forgiven Farotimi and would instruct his lawyers to withdraw the criminal charges against him.
The Ooni briefed the journalists outcome of the meeting which was earlier held close door between Afe Babalola and the Ooni accompanied by 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 doubles as Chairman, Ekiti Council Of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ilori Faboro that having watched the scenarios surrounding the criminal case instituted against Dele Farotimi with rapt attention, it has become very imperative to apply Alternative Dispute Resolution method which Yoruba race was known for in the past because it’s a case between father and son.
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 elderstateman, you have seen it all, you are one of the iconic voices in this country, a great man per excellence, you are a rare breed who has excelled in everything you have touched in this life, a very God fearing elderstateman, above all, you are one of the proponents of the Yoruba ethos of Omoluwabi which has been your strongest value that you hold in our country. This what we are using to bring down the tempo in what has happened between you and your son Dele Farotimi. We have been very proud of you as a great Yoruba elderstateman. 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 can not be be messed with”.
Afe Babalola praised the Ooni’s intervention, saying, “Your coming is unquantifiable in terms of money, who am I?” He also acknowledged the respect and honor due to the traditional rulers, citing the Yoruba proverb, “Eni ti o ba nI nkan lati se, kii wo elegan rara” (those who change the world for the better do not wait to respond to criticism).
Aare Afe Babalola did not hesitate to accept the request saying he grew up as a child to understand such interventions by the traditional rulers. He declared he had not only forgiven Dele Farotimi but also will instruct his lawyers to withdraw the criminal charges against him with immediate effect, because of the honour for the Ooni and the other Obas.
“Today is a very important day for me, I’m a Yoruba man and I’m very proud to be one. Ewi of Ado has come here to meet me on this matter, former president Obasanjo has intervened, same with 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”.
With this resolution, the longstanding dispute between Afe Babalola and Dele Farotimi appear to have come to an end, thanks to the wise intervention of the Ooni of Ife.
