By Abiola Olawale
In a heartfelt moment captured on video, Dele Farotimi, a renowned human rights lawyer and activist, was visibly moved to tears as he expressed his deep gratitude to the Nigerian people for their unwavering support during his recent legal struggles.
His emotions overflowed as he acknowledged the strength and encouragement he received from citizens and indeed all lovers of justice.
His emotional moment was related to his recent detention and subsequent release after being accused of defamation in his book “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.”
Recall that Farotimi was arrested following a petition by a senior legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Afe Babalola, over claims made in the published book.
The New Diplomat reports that following the arrest of Farotimi, there was a massive public outcry, with many demanding his release.
Reacting after his release, Farotimi emphasized that the collective voice of Nigerians transcended ethnic and religious divides, highlighting how this unity prevented him from suffering, which he referred to as “Nigeria couldn’t happen to him” due to the people’s support.
He stated: “We stopped being human because we became Nigerians. They divided us, and we fell for it because you wouldn’t see me as a Yoruba man; you spoke for me. Because you wouldn’t see me as a Christian, you spoke for me.
“Because you spoke Nigeria couldn’t happen to me. The only reason Nigeria couldn’t happen to me is because you spoke.”
