January 28, 2025
By Ayinde Adeleke
Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation, has praised legal luminary Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, for respecting the wishes of prominent Yoruba Obas and withdrawing his suit against Barrister Dele Farotimi.
Babalola had sued Farotimi for defaming him in his book titled ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’.
However, after the Ooni of Ife, Oba Eniitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, and other prominent Yoruba Obas appealed to him to forgive Farotimi, Babalola agreed to withdraw the case.
“I couldn’t disrespect Ooni because of the high regard I have for the royal institution,” Babalola said. He also noted that he had previously turned down appeals from other prominent Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Archbishop Mathew Kukah, but decided to forgive Farotimi due to the respect he has for the Yoruba monarchs.
“By so doing, Aare Afe Babalola has demonstrated, as a true Yoruba son, certain core ethos of being an Omoluabi,” said Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary.
“He came to defend his reputation and when he was appealed to by our foremost traditional institutions, he dropped the gauntlet. This is highly commendable.”
Afenifere also commended the Ooni and other monarchs for their role in resolving the issue.
“They acted as true Elders in line with the saying ‘Agba kii wa loja, ki ori omo titun wo’ – Elders would not sit-by in a marketplace to watch the dangling head of a child!” Ajayi said.
