Public office holders may soon have to swear an oath to Ifa deity to uphold the highest ethics, if a new proposal by the national coordinator of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, the Oodua People’s Congress, (OPC), leader Gani Adams is adopted.
Speaking in Lagos on Monday during the annual Ifa festival, the OPC leader said that politicians should be made to swear to If a in a bid to ensure that they uphold the oath of office.
Adams, said the federal government should call out all the Ministers to swear before the gods of Ogun so that they will not steal from the federation money.
He revealed that If a and Ogun acts faster and the repercussion is almost immediate if you take a look at Sango the god of thunder.
“Sango has the ability to show one the truth just as quickly as possible. Sango only speaks once and represents by fire.”
“The spirit of Sango rises to confront and meet great challenges. Sango is the symbol of courage. He believed the truth can hurt! Like fire.
‘If our politicians are made to swear by Ogun or Sango, none of them will steal, because the repercussion is grave, he concluded.
Hundreds of years ago, Sango was a powerful king in Yoruba Land and held the throne in Old Oyo Empire. He was known as a king of thunder, because whenever he is angry, he spits fire from his mouth.
In one set of stories, Sango is the son of Aganju and Obatala when in female form. As the story goes, Obatala, the king of the white cloth was travelling and had to cross a river. Aganju, the ferryman and Undergod of fire, refused him passage. Obatala retreated and turned himself into a beautiful woman. He returned to the river and traded his/her body for passage. Sango was the result of this unusual union.
Sango had three wives; Oshun, (a river goddess) was his favoritm because of her excellent cooking, Oba (another river goddess) offered Sango her ear to eat. He scorned her and she became the Oba River, which merges with the Oshun River to form dangerous rapids. Lastly, Oya (Sango’s third wife) was a crafty woman who stole the secret of Sango’s powerful magic.
Oba was Sango’s first and legitimate wife, Oshun; his second wife, and Oya; his third wife, whom he made his queen. Oshun played a trick on Oba, out of jealousy. She deceived Oba that if she can cut a piece of her ear and offer it to Sango as part of his meal, he would love her the more. Oba, excited by this information, ran home to prepare Shango’s “amala”, his favorite meal. She sliced off her ear and stirred it into Sango’s food. While Sango was eating, he saw the ear in the food and was infuriated thinking that Oba was trying to poison him. Sango drove her from his house and Oba ran out crying.
She fell to the ground and turned into a river which is still being worshipped till date by some Yoruba’s across the globe, especially in Brazil.
She became the patron of matrimony (as “Orisha”) and it is believed that she destroys marriages that abuse either partner.
Historically, Sango brought prosperity to the Oyo Empire during his reign. He is associated with the sacred animal, the ram, and the colors of red and white.
Sango is venerated in Haiti, as a god of thunder and weather; in Brazil, he is known as Xangô; in Umbanda, as the very powerful loa Nago Shango; in Trinidad as Shango god of Thunder, drumming and dance ; and in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Venezuela – the Santeria equivalent of St. Barbara, he is known as Changó.
Sango displayed his magical powers by directing lightning unto his own household killing his wives and children. He hung himself after the incidence; he was deified as the god of thunder and lightning.
His followers refuted that Sango hung himself. It was said that Sango’s followers went to another village to acquire magical powers and returned furiously to destroy the enemies of Sango.
-Victoria Ayuwei
As if mechanics in Ibadan have not been swearing by those and still disappoint you 😒
ReplyDeleteWhen we have president who is a traditionalist, no problem...It shouldn't be by force.
ReplyDeletelet somebody tell otunba Adams that they could be compromise too
ReplyDeleteI swear they will sit up #CTAT
ReplyDeleteYeah
ReplyDelete