Religious ethical issues in the oath of office in the Nigerian Constitution

The call for an enduring democracy in Nigeria has largely ignored one vital matter, the strict adherence of political leaders to their oath of office. Each of the three major religions in Nigeria has specific ethical teachings regarding oath-taking and its violation. Indeed keeping to an oath or covenant is a religious obligation. The content of the oath of office enjoins the officeholder, be s/he the president or the lowest-ranking government employee, to show discipline, loyalty, tolerance, impartiality, courage, love and honesty. Religious leaders can be expected to play a specific role in the administration of the oath of office, notably through the invocation of curses on whoever breaks the oath by reciting scriptural passages which deal with the consequences of oath violation. Ref.