Traditional worshippers in Ondo State, located in south-west Nigeria, are calling for the recognition of traditional oath-taking for public officeholders, arguing that it is more potent and effective than the current practice of swearing in with the Bible or Quran.
The Araba Awo of Oke Agbe, Ayobami Ogedengbe, made this suggestion during the Isese Day celebration in Akure on Tuesday. He stated that traditional oaths, rooted in Yoruba culture, would deter corruption and abuse of power among public officers, as the consequences of breaking such oaths would be immediate and severe.
Ogedengbe highlighted that the existing system has loopholes that compromise integrity, allowing public officers to engage in misconduct without fear of repercussions. He emphasised that in Yorubaland, the fear of divine punishment is deeply ingrained, and no Yoruba person would dare violate an oath taken before traditional deities like Ogun, the god of thunder.
“This will restore order in our system because an average African, especially a Yoruba person, fears the repercussions of swearing by Ogun or other traditional deities,” Ogedengbe explained. “Swearing through traditional means reinforces the strength of African traditional religion and its practices.”
Araba Isese of Ondo State, Araba Folorunsho Adetunji, also called on the state government to declare August 20 as a public holiday in honour of the Isese festival, which celebrates the culture, customs, and heritage of the Yoruba people.
