The Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II in company of about prominent Yoruba traditional Rulers in Ekiti state was at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) last night to appeal to the founder of the university Aare Afe Babalola to forgive the human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi and withdraw the ongoing criminal case instituted against him.
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Ooni Ogunwusi arrived Ado Ekiti at about 10:08 pm last night into the waiting hands of Aare Afe Babalola himself accompanied by the Vice Chancellor Professor Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde, Bursar Pastor Joseph Modupe Babalola, the school PRO, Deans of various faculties at the university and the legal team of Afe Babalola handling Farotimi’s criminal case.
The Vice Chancellor in her welcome speech at the meeting acknowledged Ooni’s love for the school’s founder and the school itself which she described as one of the leading universities in Africa.
The Ooni briefed the journalists on the outcome of the meeting which was earlier held behind closed doors between Afe Babalola and the Ooni, 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 doubles as Chairman, Ekiti Council Of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ilori Faboro.
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The Ooni explained that having observed the scenarios surrounding the criminal case instituted against Dele Farotimi, it became imperative to apply Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), a method the Yoruba race is known for, as it is a case between a 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 elder statesman, 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 elder statesman. 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 is 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 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 this issue with you, and this gentleman Dele Farotimi is your son. You must forgive him and withdraw the criminal charges against him. As a father, you have soft sons and tough sons. Dele Farotimi is a tough son of yours. You have indeed made a point that your name cannot be messed with.”
“I hereby withdraw the criminal charges against Farotimi” – Afe Babalola
When given the microphone to respond to the request made by the Ooni and the traditional rulers, 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 would 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.’
“Your coming is unquantifiable in terms of money. Who am I? When the colonialists came here in the 17th century or thereabouts, they found as a fact that Yoruba land was a highly organised society with an advanced system of government, with each town headed by an Oba who was regarded as a replica of God on earth. His words were commands.”
“In the Middle Ages, the Greeks had a saying: ‘The meadow that grows on the bank of a river which obeys the direction of the flood remains strong forever, but the meadow that grows and disobeys the direction of the flood was broken asunder.'”
Aare Babalola concluded his response with a Yoruba adage:
“Eni ti o ba ni nkan lati se, kii wo elegan rara,” meaning “those who change the world for the better do not wait to respond to criticism.”
He said he had listened to the Ooni’s advice and certainly didn’t want to be a meadow by the riverside which disobeys the flood.
“I was a lawyer who defended the EFCC law, yes I’m corrupt, I was given an oil block, but when I looked at the money and saw that it was too much, I rejected it. Yes, I’m corrupt, I was offered ministerial appointments twice, and I rejected it. Yes, I’m corrupt because whatever I am, I don’t want anybody to say I made it through corruption. Look at my books. I’m Chairman, Transparency International based in Germany. I have given lectures against corruption with my papers in many universities globally. For someone to allege that I have won my cases through corruption, it’s an attempt to defame me, and that was why I rejected all appeals earlier made to me. But when I heard that the Ooni was coming, I knew I was in a fix today. ‘Nkan de o.’ There is nothing I’m going to gain from his (Dele’s) imprisonment, and there’s nothing I want from the so-called damages. I am not in quest of more wealth; I’m rather concerned with managing the one I have already. Dele Farotimi is hereby forgiven. On this occasion, I say ‘YES.'”
The Ooni departed the venue of the meeting at about half past midnight for his Ojaja Park in Akure, from where he is expected to make his departure to Abuja on Monday.
Signed:
Otunba Moses Olafare,
Director, Media & Public Affairs,
Ooni’s Palace.
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The reconciliation marks a significant moment in upholding Yoruba cultural values of forgiveness and respect for traditional authority. Aare Babalola reaffirmed his commitment to these principles while urging others to follow the path of peace.
The Ooni and his entourage departed ABUAD shortly after midnight, with the Ooni continuing his journey to Abuja.
