The weight of an oath: Why our word must still bind us

The weight of an oath: Why our word must still bind us

Jide AKINTOLA

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An oath is a solemn promise, made before a witness, an institution, or a higher power, to speak the truth or to carry out a duty faithfully. It turns an ordinary pledge into a binding moral and legal commitment.

Who needs to take an oath?

Public office holders, including the President, governors, legislators, ministers and judges, are sworn in before assuming duty. The same applies to police officers, soldiers and other security personnel, as well as lawyers at their call to the Bar, and medical practitioners, who commit to ethical standards on induction. Witnesses in court swear or affirm to tell the truth, and persons making affidavits do likewise. Members of many professional bodies, traditional councils and secret or fraternal societies also take oaths on admission.

Where signing an oath is relevant?

Oaths matter wherever trust must be guaranteed: at inaugurations, in courtrooms, in the swearing of affidavits for official records, at professional inductions, in the installation of traditional rulers and chiefs, and at the commencement of public service. In each setting, the oath is the point at which a person publicly accepts accountability.

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Consequences of refusing to take an oath

Refusal usually carries real costs. A person may be barred from assuming an office or position, as an elected official who declines the oath of office cannot validly begin to serve. A professional may be denied licensing or membership. A witness who refuses to swear or affirm may not be allowed to testify, and in some cases may be held in contempt of court. A document that requires an affidavit may be rejected as invalid. In traditional settings, refusal may cast doubt on a person’s sincerity and cost them community trust or a rightful title.

Penalty for breaching an oath

Signing an oath is only the beginning; keeping it is the test. Giving false testimony under oath is perjury, an offence punishable by fine, imprisonment or both. Public officers who violate their oath of office may face removal, impeachment, prosecution or disqualification from future service. Professionals may be suspended or struck off. In traditional belief, a broken oath is thought to bring spiritual and social consequences, including shame and ostracism, which many communities treat as seriously as any court sentence.

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Is oath taken important in the traditional context?

Yes. In many African societies, including Yoruba communities, the oath was long the ultimate guarantee of truth and loyalty. Invoking the gods, ancestors or sacred objects meant that a lie risked consequences beyond human reach. Disputes were settled, chiefs installed and secrets kept through oaths. Even as modern law has taken over many of these functions, the traditional oath remains a powerful social institution, and its spirit lives on in our courtrooms and public offices.

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Conclusion

Whether sworn on a holy book, before a judge, or at a palace, an oath reminds us that leadership and professional practice rest on trust. In an age of widespread public distrust, honouring the oaths we take is not a ceremonial formality but a foundation of a just and credible society.

Dr. Akintola is a tertiary institution lecturer

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