By Uche Amunike
The recent visit of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party during the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, on Tuesday, to the founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, has sparked great controversy in the media space, as many Nigerians have questioned the purpose of the visit.
This meeting took place at a time that Babalola is undergoing some legal battles with Dele Farotimi, who has always been a major supporter of the presidential bid of the former Anambra State Governor.
A picture of Obi with some unidentified individuals at the office of Aare Babalola went viral on X, Tuesday, leaving netizens wondering what the visit was all about.
The controversy became intensified when the Lagos based human rights lawyer and activist, Farotimi, was denied bail by a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday. Recall that Farotimi is facing defamation charges that was caused by the contents of his book titled: Nigeria and its Criminal Judicial System.
Meanwhile, details of the meeting between Peter Obi and Aare Ade Babalola was shared on X, by an associate of Obi who was also a part of the delegation.
According to Paul, Obi’s reason for visiting Babalola was to deliberate on certain issues, which included the case of Dele Farotimi. He further stated that Obi also paid a visit to Farotimi in prison where he expressed his solidarity and engaged him in a private conversation, as he tried to address the challenges being faced by the human rights activist and lawyer.
Another presidential candidate of the 2023 general election, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the visit made by Obi to the university proprietor. He reshared the photo of Obi and Babalola taken during the visit, which was held in the latter office.
Sowore’s words: ‘I condemn those who went to ‘beg’ Chief Afe Babalola today over unjust detention and persecution of Dele Farotimi. The delegation led by Peter Obi did colossal injustice to the struggle to drain the swamp of judicial criminality in our country.
‘Obi’s action is like forcing Rosa Parks to return to the back of the bus of racial injustice during the civil rights era in the United States! The struggle continues!FreeDeleFarotimiNow.
In his reaction, Moses Paul defended the visit and urged critics, including Sowore to desist from jumping into conclusions. His words: ‘Those quick to judge should step out and move around instead of sitting comfortably in one place and merely commenting on the social media.’
He continued: ‘I was the only person who sat between Mr. Peter Obi and Dele Farotimi, and I know exactly what was discussed. It does not align with what you are claiming.’
One of the leaders of the Obidient Movement, during the general election, Aisha Yesufu, also weighed in on the controversy, as she questioned critics.
Hear her: ‘What do you really think leadership is? Being a hardliner all the time? At what point did you see beg (sic), or is it that it makes you look better? The lone star!’
