Traditionalists have proposed that public officeholders in Nigeria take oaths using traditional deities to curb corruption and promote integrity in the political system.
This call was made by the Araba Awo of Oke Agbe, Ayobami Ogedengbe, during the Isese Day celebration on Tuesday, which honours Yoruba cultural and spiritual heritage.
Ogedengbe argued that using traditional oaths would introduce a new level of accountability in Nigerian politics.
He emphasised that the fear of divine retribution would compel leaders to uphold their oaths, restoring sanity to governance.
“Our people know and understand that the gods uphold integrity and no Yoruba person will go against his or her oath before the gods,” Ogedengbe said.
He further explained that swearing an oath before deities like Ogun (the god of thunder) would deter leaders from dishonesty, as they would fear the severe consequences associated with breaking such oaths.
He also called for greater recognition of traditional practices, including the establishment of a national holiday for Isese Day and the inclusion of African traditional religious studies in school curricula.
“The usual means of oath-taking with the Bible in the Christian way and Quran in the Islamic way had failed to bring the best out of our leaders,” he added.
To honour Isese Day, state governments in Yoruba-speaking regions, including Lagos, Ogun, Osun, and Oyo, declared August 20 as a work-free day, aligning with the United Nations’ designation of August 20 as World Traditional Religion Day.
