Traditional worshippers in Ondo State have called for recognition of traditional oath-taking for public officers, citing its potency and efficacy in ensuring accountability.
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They argued that the current system has loopholes that compromise integrity and that traditional oath-taking would restore sanity and decency to public offices.
“The current system in Nigeria has loopholes that compromise integrity. Our people know that the gods uphold integrity, and no Yoruba person would dare violate an oath taken before the gods,” said Ayobami Ogedengbe, the Araba Awo of Oke Agbe. “This will restore order in our system because an average African, especially a Yoruba person, fears the repercussions of swearing by Ogun (the god of thunder) or other traditional deities.”
Ogedengbe suggested that traditional oath-taking would change the narrative as punishment would be immediate and fast. “They wouldn’t dare swear to something they don’t believe in. Swearing through traditional means adds to the potency of African traditional religion and its practices,” he added.
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The demand comes as the Ondo State government declared August 20 a public holiday to celebrate the Isese festival. The Araba Isese of Ondo State, Araba Folorunsho Adetunji, urged the government to recognize traditional oath-taking as a way to promote integrity and accountability in public offices.
“Isese Day is a celebration of our origins, showcasing the deeds of our ancestors, and encompassing our culture and customs,” Adetunji explained.
