Oath Taking as an Aspect of Indigenous Diplomacy in Ogba Land, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/B2QK8Keywords:
Nigeria, GovernmentAbstract
This paper examines oath taking an aspect of indigenous diplomacy in Ogba land. Oath taking is a statement or assertion made under the penalty of divine retribution for intentional falsity. Oath taking is believed to serve same purpose(s), its processes differ from culture to culture, however, its potency cannot be denied. The religious root of oath taking emanated from the reality of human fallibility and the belief that human beings are subject to a supreme being that controls their day to day activities. People interact with one another in Ogba land due to the dynamism of the society and in these interactions, there was need for the establishment of a diplomatic seal to prove one’s sincerity to the other party. This is one reason for the establishment of oath taking in Ogba land. This study reveals that fear and past experiences are two vitals to oath taking and that, oath taking ensures good relationship, as it places both moral and mystical obligation to the parties and refusal to obey is met with great misfortune. The work adopted historical methods in its collection of data and is both descriptive and analytical.
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