AFE BABALOLA Vs DELE FAROTIMI : THE ALEGORY FLIES ON AN ELEPHANT

 

_'O ti ga j'àbùkù lo. Àjànàkú ré kojá àfi pàkúté pa....."

(You've  grown beyond oblique. The elephant doesn't belong in the category of animals to be killed with a trap)

That was the idolized pedestal on which Odolaye Aremu, the late Dadakuwada singer of Ilorin, had placed Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the immediate past Alaafin of Oyo, in one of the singer's panegyric numbers with which he eulogised and showered encomiums on the late imperial majesty.

Incidentally, Aare Afe Babalola happens to be a bosom friend of the late Alaafin.

If the late Alaafin was beyond the reproach of any mortal for whatever reason, as Odolaye had aptly classed the reverred monarch, Aare Afe Babalola is no less so, by all standards. I've taken time to go through the petition written against Dele Farotimi, in which Chief Afe Babalola had detailed the facts of defamation of his name by Dele, in his book, _Nigeria and its criminal justice system_. In the petition, the chief also devoted a large space to coupicously document some of his achievements and the larger than life heights he had attained in the course of his very inspiring life. Like many others who enjoy reading the biographies of great achievers, i am not unaware of virtually all those admirable feats of Aare Afe Babalola. This is because I've also read severally, the epic autobiography of the chief. I am also very close to Ado Ekiti, the chief's nativity, where he is virtually godified by all and sundry. I can say without fear of contradiction that chief Afe Babalola has indeed paid his dues. His is a typical case of a self-made grass to grace personality. Now, at the twilight of his days here, the story of chief Afe Babalola really typifies the answer to that prayer point of all humans, that *"K'álé san wá j'òwúrò lo"* (may the twilight of our days be more glorious than the dawn of our life).

So, everything considered, Chief Afe Babalola belongs in the category of a few personalities who have grown beyond disgrace. He has attained the height of a few people on earth, whose mistakes, rather than demeaning their status, are emulated by others and made the standard or template vogue of the moment. Such mistakes are typical of KWAM 1's song, *"Tí mbá se báyí, àrà mo fi dá...."* (whatever I do becomes the vogue). If not that it is somehow sacrilegious to accord infallibility to a mortal, I am tempted to essay that everything considered, Chief Afe Babalola has attained the height of infallibility !

However, it is natural that no matter the height which any human being may attain, the fact remains that nobody is immuned to the torment of a mosquito. That tiny insect can make a king slap himself hysterically. It can make a head of state slip into a momentum luancy. Such are the realities of human pests like Dele Farotimi. Were it not so, where on earth should that disgustingly bearded irritant of a man have gotten the temerity and courage to disparage such a globally revered great grandpa, as Aare Afe Babalola? *"Egbe mbi gbo !"* (shoe no get size?).

It is in the light of the foregoing consideration of lack of respect for personality by a mosquito, that I'll like to implore Aare Afe Babalola to treat this Dele's gross manifestation of ludicrous and utterly preposterous disposition towards him. When flies perched on an elephant, they don't detract even a modicum of substance from the grandeur of the mammoth mammal. As our people say, *"Eni tí ó p'ègàn àjànàkú ló má a pé òun rí nkan fìrí. Tí a bá r'érin ká so pé a r'érin"* (whoever wants to deride the elephant is the one who'll say he caught the glimpse of a small fry. The sight of an elegant should be properly acknowledged).

By all standards, Chief Afe Babalola is an elephant whose presence can never be ignored by any sane adult. But when flies perched on an elephant, the elephant doesn't dignify the flies with its lordly attention. All it does is shake off the parasitic insects with its tail and then majestically continue with its well measured regal movement towards its destination. That exactly should be the attitude of chief Afe Babalola to this Dele's senseless distraction. To proceed against him in a legal duel over this storm in a tea cup, is to accord him an unearned dignity and recognition. A thousands Dele can do nothing to defame Aare Afe Babalola. I swear !

Written by Mr. Dauda Adesina Joki-Lasisi (esq), in his course of his service as a police officer, he attended Tactical Leadership Course at the Police Staff College, Jos. He served in various formations and duty posts in Nigeria Police and EFCC. His foreign services include serving in the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) 2000-2002 and also the United Nations Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) 2004-2006. He ran through the ranks in the Police and retired as an Assistant Commissioner Of Police in 2021, upon his attainment of the statutory 35 years in public service. His last duty post was as Area Commander, Kabba in Kogi State Command. He is now into full law practice as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. His hobbies include reading, writing, and gardening. He is happily married with children.