Foremost Yoruba Monarchs, and Nigerian leaders have appealed to the founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, to Pardon Mr Dele Farotimi, the Human Rights Activist, who is currently facing criminal defamation charges instituted by the legal luminary.
An Ekiti Magistrate Court recently granted Dele Farotimi ₦30 million bail.
Addressing newsmen around midnight on Sunday, the Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said Yoruba leaders and stakeholders were following the event keenly and had to appeal to Aare Babalola to Pardon his son, Farotimi
He commended Aare Babalola for building his integrity over the years.
His words… “we monarchs have 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”.
Aare Afe Babalola in his response, said he had received several letters and calls on the issue, particularly from who is who in the society and had no choice than to succumb to the latest pleas by the monarchs.
Are Babalola added that he had nothing to gain in the imprisonment of Farotimi.
“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?” Babalola added
“For someone to allege me that I have won my cases through corruption, it’s an attempt to defame me, that was why I rejected all appeals earlier made to me. But when I heard that Ooni was coming, I knew I’m in a fix today. “Nkan de o”. There is nothing I’m going to gain from his(Dele) imprisonment and there’s nothing I want from the so called damages. I am not in quest of more wealth, I’m rather concerned on managing the one I have already. Dele Farotimi is hereby forgiven. On this occasion, I say “YES”.
He said that he would direct his lawyers to withdraw the case.
Also Present at the meeting were the Ewi, Oloye, Ajero, Olojudo, Alaye of Efon, and Ogoga
