Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate has hailed Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) for dropping all criminal defamation charges against human rights activist Dele Farotimi.
Recall that we had reported that Babalola announced his decision on Sunday night after the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi, and other prominent traditional rulers across the country.
Reacting to the development on Monday, Peter Obi commended Babalola’s choice, describing it as a demonstration of his commitment to resolving conflicts peacefully. Speaking on Obi’s behalf, his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, called Babalola’s decision a welcome development.
According to Vanguard, Umar said: “We are pleased that this matter has been resolved amicably, and we believe that this outcome is a testament to the power of dialogue, and constructive engagement. Let me set the record straight: Obi’s visit to Afe Babalola was not about begging for pardon for Dele Farotimi, but rather a genuine effort at intervention and conflict resolution.
“As a leader, Obi recognises the importance of peaceful resolution of disputes, and his actions were guided by this principle. Now, with the news that Afe Babalola has agreed to withdraw the suit against Dele Farotimi, we welcome this development as a positive outcome of Obi’s intervention.
“This decision demonstrates that Chief Babalola is also committed to finding peaceful solutions to conflicts, and we commend him for this gesture. It’s worth noting that Mr Obi’s actions were driven by his desire to facilitate a peaceful resolution that would allow all parties to move forward positively and constructively.”
