The Ogun State government has initiated an investigation into a viral video showing Oba Semiu Ogunjobi, the Olooriile of Orile Ifo in Ifo Local Government Area, allegedly dehumanizing one of his chiefs, Arinola Abraham Love.
The video lasting about two minutes, depicts Arinola kneeling on a roadside while being verbally abused and accused of conspiracy by Oba Ogunjobi. The monarch, reportedly a retired police officer, was also seen boasting about his influence over law enforcement and threatening to imprison the chief. At one point, a man in the video slapped Arinola and instructed him to prostrate before the monarch.
In the video, Oba Ogunjobi made threatening remarks in Yoruba, stating: “You are a conspirator, it will never be well with you, your wife, and children. Whoever thinks he is courageous enough should come out to face me. Even if you die, we shall bury you, and nothing will happen.”
The incident is said to have stemmed from a kingship supremacy dispute, with Oba Ogunjobi allegedly angered by Arinola’s perceived support for a rival coronet Oba.
Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Communication and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, condemned the treatment of Arinola, describing it as horrific and unacceptable. Similarly, the Governor’s Special Assistant on New Media, Emmanuel Ojo, criticized the monarch’s conduct, emphasizing that the situation could have been addressed in a more civilized manner.
“The act is highly condemnable and unjustifiable, regardless of the underlying issues,” Ojo said.
The Ogun State government has assured the public of its commitment to addressing the matter and ensuring justice prevails.
