Dele Farotimi: A Watch Dog or Just Too Much Talk?, by Dr. Sewedo Samuel

 By Sewedo Samuel  I honestly think Dele Farotimi talks too much but, truth be told, I envy and admire his eloquence. His criticisms and adv...

 By Sewedo Samuel 

I honestly think Dele Farotimi talks too much but, truth be told, I envy and admire his eloquence. His criticisms and advocacies are delivered so entertainingly that even his staunchest critics can’t help but stay glued. The man can hold your attention like hot goat meat pepper soup on a cold night.

His skilful blend of Yoruba adjectives in his presentations shows he doesn’t just speak; he crafts every word. Some things, after all, can only be perfectly expressed in Yoruba. Let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to hear the next thing Dele has to say after his first explosive statement?

One philosopher once said, “Those who tell stories rule the world.” No wonder men like MKO Abiola and Asiwaju Tinubu invested in communication empires. They understood that whoever controls the story controls the narrative.

Now to this Aare vs. Dele Farotimi matter, I think the legal drama is like pouring water on a goat; it won’t solve the problem. Whether Dele loses or wins, the dent to Aare’s reputation is already there. It’s like trying to unhear that tortoise is the wisest animal in Yoruba folklore; even if it isn’t true, it sticks.

I was talking to my uncle (Peter Mesewaku) recently, and he raised an interesting point... “Did Ajayi Crowther not defame Eṣu by calling him Satan?” Poor Eṣu couldn’t sue Bishop Ajayi or call a press conference. Now, when Yoruba people do evil, they pin it on him while Satani, the real bad guy, enjoys the freedom of anonymity (Don't tell me Eṣu and Satani or Aṣetani are the same ooo). That’s the power of storytelling.

Instead of going all-out to arrest Dele, wouldn’t it have been better for Aare to counter with his own narrative? Tell us his side of the story, paint his truth in bold colours. But alas, this whole drama has made Dele’s book more famous than gala in Lagos traffic. As people are now seeing what Dele alleged in his book now play out in reality. Imagine what could have happened to VeryDarkMan if he had mentioned Aare instead of Falana... Ooooh! Some of you now appreciate Falana's civility. 

Sometimes, it’s good to just look away. Like the Yoruba proverb says, “The knife has cut the child’s hand, throwing the knife away doesn’t heal the wound.” Whatever Aare’s virtues or flaws, we the spectators now hold his reputation in our hearts; good or bad, he won’t reclaim it by chasing shadows.

Let’s face it, Dele Farotimi might talk too much, but he’s mastered the ancient art of storytelling. Whether you agree with him or not, his words linger, gripping attention like jollof rice at a wedding because it is in black and white.

There are lessons to be learnt here... Just like the former dictator said, freedom of speech is guaranteed but freedom may be lost after the speech. Also, successful and powerful people should learn from the Ogu proverb that says “as beautiful and cute rocking a baby is, one has to deal with the filth of spit and unexpected vomit”

As far as I am concerned, both men are just feeding their egos and that has nothing to do with the price of petrol. 

Sewedo Samuel (PhD) is a Lecturer at Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Lagos