Obi versus Deji: Inconsistency of the Mob
By Elempe Dele
The injection of the news came surprisingly yesterday that Mr. Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party, LP presidential candidate has threatened to instituted a suit against Mr. Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and self-styled activist, if he does not retract defamatory posts he made against him along with unreserved public apology.
In a demand notice, Mr Obi’s lawyers, Ejesimen & Co Madiba Chambers, accused the activist of making repeated derogatory remarks against the former governor on social media platforms, particularly X. The lawyers cited Mr Adeyanju’s long-standing criticisms of Mr Obi, including an earlier account the activist shared about a private meeting with the former governor.
“He tried to give me money and called it thank you for coming, it’s 100% true,” Mr Adeyanju had claimed in a previous post, insisting the gesture was an attempt to buy his loyalty.
The notice also referenced a more recent post made on August 21, in which Mr Adeyanju accused Mr Obi of investing state funds in a company in which his family allegedly had interests during his time in office.
The usual mob is against Deji and is rationalizing Peter Obis threat to sue the activist-lawyer who in my estimation was incautious in several of his remarks like his activist-conterpact, Omoyele Sowore.
When I read the news during the small hours before dawn today, my mind raced back like a bank teller counting his daily deals. I reflected on how the same mob reacted when Dele Farotimi allegedly defamed Aare Afe Babalola, (a Senior Advocate of Nigeria) the 90 year old lawyer who have etched his name in the legal profession in Nigeria.
The mob storm was triggered when Babalola had Farotimi prosecuted for alleged defamation in a book he wrote(Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System)
Yes, the ‘majority’ descended on Babalola for dragging Farotimi, a somewhat anarchist, to a magistrate court in Ekiti State where he was remanded in prison until the next hearing.
Now, my contention is the inconsistency of the mob: If Deji is being vilified for allegedly defaming Obi, and Obi is threatening him with a law suit, why should the same mob differ in the case between Farotimi and Babalola?
The mob praised Farotimi to high heavens even sharing fake news that the said book was number one bestseller on Amazon.
Today, with steadfast navigation, Deji is being insulted, vilified, branded like a slave…for allegedly defaming Obi.
The mob is even unearthing a murder case against him while he was in the university. This is the length they are going…perhaps he will get the guillotine from the mob where he will summarily get hanged without trial.
The standard by which the mob judge same issues is very curious.
You can only confirm their biases and prejudices through their lenses. Justice is not always what it should be for them…it is about where they stand on a matter.
No one can fail to recognize this during the brief period that succeeded Senator Natasha’s refusal to take her reallocated seat in the Red Chambers.
