Viral Videos, Social Justice And The Demystification Of Power

For those who saw that video of the boastful monarch leading the assault on a hapless man, I am sure the thought would be that justice has been served with the news that Oba Abdulsemiyu Adewale Ogunjobi, the Olorile of Orile-Ifo in Ogun State has been remanded. Once more, it seems that social media has provided some solace to another ordinary Nigerian who, otherwise would have been another statistic of victims of the mindless and reckless abuse of office by leaders who like to play god when no one is looking. That feeling would be justified given the visible demonstration of raw power by the monarch, whose utterances suggested that he was above the law.

The footage, which showed the monarch assaulting a subject, 73-year-old Areola Abraham, sparked widespread outrage, culminating in swift government intervention. This incident highlights the digital transformation of the media and the potential power of social media in holding individuals – regardless of their status – accountable. In a country where traditional mechanisms of justice are  controlled by and often privilege the influential, social media has emerged as a powerful force for transparency and social justice that allows the common man to cut through the bureaucracy. In addition, it underlines the vulnerability of otherwise untouchable men and women or their institutions when they are dragged to the court of public opinion.

I am constrained to ask: How reliable is the justice driven by virality? Is online outrage the best mechanism for ensuring accountability? And, perhaps most important, does this signify a fundamental shift in how power and privilege operate in Nigeria? For a country like ours, where justice is often slow and, at times, elusive for the common man, these questions are important.

The capacity of social media to amplify voices and highlight injustices is not new. In 2013, Adams Oshiomhole, then the governor of Edo State was forced to make a public apology, appease the widow with a cash gift of almost N2 million and employment after he was caught on camera insulting a widow for breaking the state’s law against street trading. His meeting with the widow after the backlash that followed the publication of the video on YouTube and other  social media platforms like Facebook was humbling to say the least, given his brash posture during the encounter on the street. Other events like #EndSARS and #OccupyNigeria also demonstrated the power of digital activism in mobilising public opinion. These campaigns not only forced conversations about systemic issues but sometimes also pressured authorities into taking action.

Without a doubt, social media has democratised access to justice by providing ordinary citizens a voice in the public sphere. Traditionally, victims of abuse like the one suffered by Areola Abraham would suffer in silence for fear of retribution or systemic inefficiencies. As we just witnessed, social media has changed the rules of engagement. A single post, video, or tweet can reach thousands – or even millions – within hours, forcing those in power to respond, most times against their natural instincts.

The 2020 #EndSARS protest is one good illustration of advocacy successfully driven by social media as it led to the disbandment of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). It is interesting that #EndSARS mirrors the Olorile case, with social media allowing for grievances to be aired on a scale that otherwise would have been impossible and in that sense; it is tempting to think that digital platforms have become effective mechanisms for social change. As good as it sounds, that would be a rather misleading conclusion.

True to form, once the video of the elderly Areola Abraham  being harassed surfaced online, it took on a life of its on leading to a backlash on social media that ultimately led to the suspension of the errant Oba. Given the speed with which the Ogun State government moved to suspend the Olorile and had him charged to court, it looks as if a viral content of this nature is a powerful weapon against impunity. What that means is that those like the Olorile who once acted with impunity now face unprecedented scrutiny. This raises important questions. First, why do those misusing power allow those moments to be captured on video? And then of course, how do we mitigate the likelihood of trial by media, knowing that at best, these kinds of content were results of citizen journalism. The two questions are important because we already know that acts of journalism does not necessarily make one a journalist; and that moments captured privately – unless it is recorded with the permission of the participants – are subject to privacy laws.

Doubtless, being able to record and share real-time events,  guarantees that stories like that of Areola Abraham  that would have been buried under bureaucracy have the potential to reach a wide audience. The downside? The online public, being so emotive, could lead a mob justice that often forecloses the measured deliberation that every accused should ordinarily enjoy. While there is no dispute about the Olorile harassment video, the accuracy of viral stories and  videos are oftentimes questionable; a concern that digital activists do not share. In an era where misinformation is an ever-present part of the communication mix; somehow, we need to find the right balance that allows for public scrutiny of people like Olorile but ensures that justice is fairly served.

As mentioned earlier, cases of this nature have historically been swept under carpets of elite influence and bureaucracy but in addition to responding to the outcry on social media; the Egba Traditional Council is believed to have aligned with the Ogun State government to support the suspension of the Olorile. So, while it appears that digital activism is becoming a factor in the administration of justice, and that leaders are becoming aware of the public scrutiny of their actions, there is still the need to balance prompt action with the dangers of being driven by online public sentiment. There has to be a clear line to distinguish the calls for justice and digital mob rule. While digital activism may help to expose wrongdoing, there is a need to ensure that the justice system is strong enough to deal with the likes of the Olorile who have the tendency to abuse their offices.

Regardless of where this case ends, digital activists can take pride in the fact that a boastful monarch was humbled because people demanded justice. In addition, the case may provide some direction  for future digital activisms. Anyone with some reasonable level of digital literacy now know that whenever they publicly witness anything that looks like injustice – and where doing so does not expose them to danger – they would be serving the public good by capturing the moment on video.

The suspension and remand of Oba Abdulsemiyu Adewale Ogunjobi is one good example of the growing influence of digital activism on social justice and how social media is replacing the media as ‘courts of public opinion,’ able to hold errant leaders to account in a system that has the tendency to privilege the well-heeled and the well-connected. As ordinary Nigerians embrace the opportunities in digital activism, there are likely going to be pressure points, either of the miscarriage of justice as in when people rush to conclusions or are misled by doctored videos. Or when roguish leaders like the Olorile learn to cover up their acts and attempt to ‘enforce controls’ that are near impossible in an age when everyone with a smartphone and internet connection is a publisher.

I believe, that as usual, that prospect of digital activism being used as a tool for truth and accountability is too enticing to allow the ‘pressure points’ serve as a roadblock. It is in finding the right balance that ordinary Nigerians can truly enjoy freedom without the likes of the Olorile operating as if they control the existence of those below their status.