The Ogun State Government has announced plans to investigate a viral video that allegedly shows the Oloorile of Orile Ifo, Oba Semiu Ogunjobi, subjecting Chief Arinola Abraham to humiliating treatment in the Ifo Local Government Area.
In the two-minute footage, Arinola is seen kneeling on a road while a man, believed to be Ogunjobi, verbally abuses him, curses his family, and accuses him of conspiracy. The monarch, reportedly a retired police officer, also boasts about his influence over law enforcement and threatens to imprison the chief.
At one point in the video, a man accompanying the king slaps Arinola and commands him to prostrate before the monarch.
Speaking in Yoruba, Ogunjobi is heard saying, “You are a conspirator; misfortune will follow you, your wife, and your children. If anyone dares to challenge me, let them come forward. Even if you die, we will bury you, and nothing will happen.”
Reacting to the video, Governor Dapo Abiodun’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, described the incident as “inappropriate and inhumane.”
In response to an inquiry from Drivetvnews, Akinmade assured that the matter would be investigated, and if the allegations were confirmed, appropriate measures would be taken.
Similarly, the governor’s Special Assistant on New Media, Emmanuel Ojo, condemned the incident in a Facebook post, emphasizing that disputes should be handled with civility.
Ojo wrote, “I came across a troubling video online in which Chief Arinola Abraham Love (JP) was subjected to public humiliation and physical assault. He was seen kneeling on the road while being slapped and verbally attacked by someone identified as Oba Semiu Olawale Ogunjobi, the Oloorile of Orile Ifo.”
He explained that the dispute reportedly stemmed from a kingship rivalry, with the monarch allegedly angered by Arinola’s perceived support for a coronet Oba named Wasiu. In response, Ogunjobi confronted him in his community and treated him in a manner deemed unbefitting of a traditional ruler.
“Such behavior is unacceptable and cannot be justified under any circumstances,” Ojo stated. He stressed that conflicts among traditional leaders should be resolved through lawful and dignified means rather than through intimidation, violence, or public shaming.
