The Ogun State government has reacted to a viral video showing the Olorile of Orile Ifo in Ifo local government area of the State, Oba Semiu Ogunjobi, humiliating one of his subjects, Chief Arinola Abraham Love.
The State government described the incident as very inappropriate and inhumane.
Oba Ogunjobi was seen in the two-minute-long video cursing Chief Arinola, who knelt on the road while the monarch was raining curses on him and his family, accusing them of conspiring against him.
The monarch also boasted in the video to have control over the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) while threatening to send the Chief to jail at all cost.
He further threatened that he would bury the man if he died without any consequence while also removing the cap on the chief’s head to further humiliate him.
In the midst of curses, one of the traditional ruler’s aides assaulted the Chief Arinola by slapping him and ordering him to prostrate on his belly before the furious monarch.
“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,” Oba Ogunjobi boasted.
But, reacting to this viral video, the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Communication and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, condemned the maltreatment of Chief Arinola, describing it as horrible and inappropriate.
Akinmade further said the action was very inappropriate and inhumane, assuring that, “This will be investigated and if proven to be true, necessary action will be taken.”
In the same vein, Special Assistant to the governor on New Media, Emmanuel Ojo, in a post on his verified Facebook page also condemned the disposition of the royal father in the video, saying the situation could have been handled in a more civilised way.
“I came across a disturbing video online showing Chief Arinola Abraham Love (JP) being subjected to public humiliation and physical assault. In the video, he was seen kneeling on the road while being slapped and verbally abused by someone identified as Ọba Semiu Olawale Ogunjobi, the Oloorile of Orile Ifo.
“This incident reportedly stemmed from a kingship supremacy dispute.
“The king allegedly took offense at Chief Arinola Abraham Love’s perceived support for a coronet Oba named Wasiu (as mentioned in the video). In response, he confronted the elderly man in his area and treated him in a manner unbefitting of a traditional ruler.
“Such an act is highly condemnable and completely unjustifiable, regardless of the underlying issues,” Ojo said.
The governor’s aide added that there were more dignified and lawful ways to address disputes, particularly among traditional leaders.
He stressed that resorting to force, assault, and public humiliation is unacceptable and must be strongly denounced.
