Ooni of Ife, traditional rulers settle Afe Babalola, Farotimi’s rift

..As Afe Babalola pledges to withdraw law suit

The Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and some prominent Yoruba traditional Rulers have settled the rift between the legal icon, Aare Afe Babalola and the human right lawyer, Dele Farotimi.

The traditional rulers are; 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.

A statement issued by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Moses Olafare, said the traditional rulers were at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) last night (Sunday night) to appeal to Aare Afe Babalola to forgive Dele Farotimi and withdraw the ongoing criminal case instituted against him.

According to the statement, Ooni Ogunwusi arrived Ado Ekiti at about 10:08pm last night (Sunday 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.

Addressing the media after the close-door meeting,  Ooni Ogunwusi said ” 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”.

The statement added “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”.

It disclosed that Afe Babalola declared he had not only forgiven Dele Farotimi and 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 traditional rulers.

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