By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
IN line with the African Traditional Religion (ATR), supervisors and advisers of Ikere-Ekiti Local Government Area in Ekiti State have been sworn in using the symbol of ‘Ògún,’ a machete alongside the Quran.
Stonix News reports that Ògún, which is the Yoruba “god of iron,” is one of the deified deities in Yoruba traditional religion.
The eerie event happened at the Conference Hall of the office of the LGA chairman, Olu Adamolekun, on May 2, 2024.
The oath of office was administered to the appointees by Adamolekun to the satisfaction of most Nigerians who have been calling on political office holders to be sworn in using traditional methods which are implacable as the God of the Bible.
In a video still making the rounds on social media, the appointees could be seen taking turns to wield a cutlass (a totem for the god of iron) in one hand and a Quran in the other while being administered to their oath of office.
Adamolekun, as the oath-taking went on, asked the appointees to repeat the following in Yoruba: “From today, I will be loyal and truthful to BAO (Ekiti state governor), and Monisade (Deputy Governor), APC and its leaders.
“I will take instructions from the leaders. If I refuse to do so, Ogun or the Quran should kill me. For this, I will be truthful,” they recited.
Public officer holders normally swear an oath of office with the Quran or Bible, to pledge loyalty to the constitution, but with little or no repercussions as most of them usually misappropriate or steal outright from the coffers of the government.
The appointees were made, this time around, to swear loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its leaders in Ekiti — while invoking a deity.
List of the appointees who took the oath, among which are Christian and Muslims, included:
SUPERVISORS
1. Femi Ayeni — Are/Aramomi/Ayetoro Ward 2. Olu Ogundipe — Okeruku Ward 3. ldowu Ojo Omowumi — Atiba/Aafin Ward 4. Ajayi Mathew Oladele — Ogbonjana Ward
ADVISERS
1. Sola Alonge — Odose Ward 2. Boluwaji Daramola — llapetu/ljao Ward 3. Toyin Owolabi — Agbado/Oyo Ward 4. Akojiyan Olamilekan Rasaq — Oke Osun Ward 5. Filani Motunrayo — Afao/Kajola Ward
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