Startrend International Magazine For Your Latest News And Entertainment Gists
Opinion:
Unlike the former which is legal…in nature…the later is traditional- Both tussles, however, arose from conflict of interests, personality clash, and individual principle.
Life is very complex, and culture/traditions are more complex, but human beings are the most complex in understanding the application of true dynamism, and wealth of wisdoms, inherent, in both culture and life experiences.
After the usual back and forth, the Oyo State Governor, His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde, during his early second term in office, finally turned to support the then Olubadan of Ibadanland, now late Oba, (Dr.), Lekan Balogun, to recrown the ten High Chiefs, earlier cancelled, thereby leaving High Chief Rasheed Ladoja in limbo – Having been gazetted that, becoming one of the crowned eleven High Chiefs is, now, one of the criteria for any would be Olubadan to ascend the throne. But High Chief Ladoja is next to the Olubadan’s stool, and the only High Chief, hell bent not to be crowned, amongst the eleven Ibadan High Chiefs – What a dilemma!
However, in the case of Baba Afe Babalola, and Dele Farotimi, the defamation tussle took both national and international trajectories…image wise, not only to the parties involved, but Nigeria as a country- Considering the international legal status of Chief Babalola, and lawyer Farotimi, as a renowned human rights activist of great repute.
Here, then, is what I termed the ‘umbilical cord’, within the realm of culture/traditions, in resolving nutty issues, surrounding the above two tangles, quite outside the modern day legal processes, that could have escalated everything.
The ‘umbilical cord’, therefore, has three legged muscles…in the concept of Yoruba wise saying- (a) ‘Boti to’… (the right thing that needs to be done) – (b) ‘Boti gba’… (the unfolding dramas, and overwhelming contrary issues on ground, masquerading as realities)- (c) ‘Ti inu mi ni maa se’… (how one party in dispute…especially the victim…or the two parties, remain adamant, by still emphasizing the issue of rights and justifications, after the elders intervention for alternative, and amicable settlement, for peace and tranquility to reign)
‘Ti Omode meji ba un gegi ninu igbo, awon agbalagba lo maa mo ibi to maa wo si’ – The elders, often, have the foresight of the direction of a fallen tree, that two younger ones are cutting in the bush – With the accompanying either glaring futility, or the involving colossal damage to one, or both youths, and even the possible destructive tendency to the environs.
In essence, going to court was the last resort, if Chief Ladoja wanted to become Olubadan…in view of government Gazette, then – And the court case would have dragged on, for a long time, thereby disrupting the age long, highly cherished, hierarchical succession process of Obaship, in Ibadanland!
With the foreknowledge of the above colossal damage, therefore, Ibadan elders, eventually prevailed on Chief Ladoja…and as a knowledgeable Yoruba elder…himself…of eighty years old, it was very easy for Baba Ladoja to jettison…‘Bo ti TO’ – What is RIGHT…for ‘Bo ti GBA’ – The visible/prevailing circumstantial alternative for peace…instead of…‘Ti inu mi ni maa se’ – Unyielding and uncompromising stand, after a lot of passionate entreaties…considering its dire implications and future consequences to ‘ALL’…personal sacrifice was, therefore, needed to be made!
However, Baba Afe Babalola and Farotimi’s defamation tangle has the semblance of application of state instruments of cohesion, in seeking defamation redress. While, a whole new can of worms could have, invariably, been opened up, in the course of court proceedings, to the detriment of Nigeria judiciary reputation, including the personalities involved in the libel cases – The Publisher of the defamation book, Barrister Farotimi, could, as well, be convicted, jailed, or fined for damages, if found guilty! Thereby, creating bad blood between kith and kin.
Hence, like Ladoja/Crowned Ibadan Obas, the Highly revered Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi of Ile-Ife, with other notable Yoruba Obas, found it very expedient to intervene, by applying the ‘umbilical cord’, with the above three Yoruba concepts of wise saying,….for peace and tranquility to reign in the land….leaving the final arbitration/decision to divinity, as Yorubas often result to, on issues beyond their human compression/control, after physical agitations.
Hence, the various ideal norms, proverbs, and wise sayings…in Yoruba culture and traditions… have always made the race strong, often free of trouble, or unresolved issues, with themselves, insiders, and outsiders…even at the point of injustice, and unfairness, especially, during the military junta era. While Yoruba culture, of respect for elders, has been found responsible for the flourishing nature of their young and old, across the globe…in nearly every human endeavour.
However, in the above Baba Afe Babalola/Farotimi’s issue, there is need to strain every nerve to assuage feelings, the hiccups in the system, and the fundamental issues of concern to Nigerians, in general.
*Oladipupo Oluwole writes in from Ije-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria. oladipooluwole21@gmail.com
