Back then in the secondary school, it was usually with trepidation that we—as children –looked towards taking the oath of office as the final seal of authority—and responsibility. The sanctity was unmistakable. After taking the oath, you are looked upon in awe and everyone under the authority of your responsibility is assured of justice, fairness and equity. The swearing of the oath of office confers on you the status of God’s own representative in your area of operation. You are the symbol of truth, honesty and integrity. You are not expected to deviate from the expected standards —not even your religious and ethnic belief is allowed to sway your decisions.
Nigeria operates a federalism system and for this reason the framers of the constitution had taken cognisance of the divergent tribes and indigenes around. So they came up with Federal character principal as double check against possible slant. All through the military regimes faith was kept with this practice in terms of appointments, recruitments, allocations, mindful of the need to carry every section along. Sincerity was the norm. For long, the “oath of office” became the symbol of sacredness and purity in national service. It was simply anathema to go against it for any reason. Thus, you will understand why after 40 years of leaving secondary school, that very sacred symbol is now openly abused—even with impunity—in a democratic setting.
The supremacy of powerful individuals wielding political offices has seemingly overshadowed –and surprisingly overwhelmed the once revered “oath of office”. Nowhere else has this abuse been more pronounced than in recent days with the once trusted public officials doing the opposite. Now it is obvious, political lords observe the oath only in breech—and without conscience. The constitution is still there, so is the Federal Character principle; but the lopsided appoin
tments, court cases upon court cases are glaring examples that people entrusted with power and responsibility have apparently forgotten that Nigeria is still guided by a constitution. This has of course given rise to upsurge of rebellion, disloyalty and fear, The rising tension, insecurity are all sensational fallouts from the abuse and neglect of the core fulcrum of the oath.
The bedrock of good governance has long gone; rather sections of the country clamour for restructuring; Oh yes, why not? When you watch as your civil liberty and rights are continually trampled in the name of ethnic and religious consideration? This is the time for President Buhari to step up and put an end to these colourations. He can do it; that is why he is the president and people have faith in him. Away with hunger and uncertainty. The invincibility of the “oath of office” must return.
