Political appointees and staff at the presidency take oath of secrecy in compliance with presidential directive

Political office holders and staff of the Presidential Villa, last week took oath of secrecy on the instructions of President Umaru Yar’Adua. This is the first of such oath-taking at the seat of power.

Before now, the practice had been for political appointees, particularly ministers, to swear an oath of office and allegiance to the government before the president.

This time, the appointees took the oath at the State House before Justice Husseini Yusuf Baba of the Abuja High Court, who urged those that took the oath to respect the solemn promises they had made before God as they discharge the enormous tasks before them.

Those who took the oath included new and old political appointees numbering 70, who had not taken the customary oath administered on civil servants. Out of that number, 33 work with the President while 28 work with the Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan.

A further breakdown reveals that five of the oath takers were from the office of the First Lady, Turai Yar’Adua, while the remaining four work in the office of the Vice-President’s wife.

Among them were the Principal Secretary to the President, David Edevbie; Principal Secretary to the Vice President, Mike Oghiadome; the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Tanimu Yakubu; Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the President, Olusegun Adeniyi. They all took their oaths separately.

Others included Chief Physician to the President, Salisu Barau Banye; and Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the Vice President, Ima Niboro, who took their oaths in groups.

Baba Kura Kaigama, permanent secretary (state House) explained that the oath was administered on the appointees based on Yar’Adua’s instruction. He added that other civil servants in the State House had already taken a similar oath.

Newswatch learnt that while other civil servants in the country take the oath of secrecy once in their career, usually on assumption of duty, those at the Presidential Villa were made to do so every year. Majority of the civil servants at the Villa had taken oath this year, but political appointees, 70 in all, were yet to do so.

Although political appointees were not usually required to take the official oath of secrecy, Yar’Adua insisted that his aides and their personal or special assistants as well as members of the Presidential Fleet, which fly the presidential aircraft, be made to do so.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity confirmed that Yar’Adua gave instruction to Kaigama to administer the oath.

Lawyers, across the country, have denounced the secrecy oath administered on top presidency officials, by the Yar’Adua administration, describing it as illegal. Niyi Akintola, SAN, said it was wrong for the Presidency to administer the secrecy oath on political appointees.

"To those professionals, even the rule of their professions enjoins them to maintain some confidentiality. But they are bound by the same rules to disclose, if they are being asked to do something illegal. For instance, if the doctor is asked to carry out an abortion or the lawyer is privy to an illegal act by the president, the appointee is bound to disclose."

He also spoke of the implications of the oath. "The immediate effect of the oath of secrecy is that it will hamper the media in the discharge of their  constitutional responsibility, which is to hold the government accountable at all times."

Ben Umudjoro, another lawyer, said, "no law backs the oath. It is contrary to the constitution. Section 39 guarantees the right to freedom of expression. The oath is null and void. The people who have taken the oath are public servants, not civil servants."

In his own reaction, Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, described the oath as ‘wrong’. "I condemn it because government is not a secret cult. By doing this, Aso Rock has been turned into a secret cult."

Allen Agbaka described the exercise as an inhibition on the freedom of information. Ebun Adegboruwa described the Yar’Adua administration as a cult, adding that the secrecy oath administered on top public servants, was unconstitutional. He argued that whereas the president should be seen to support the Freedom of Information Bill still with the National Assembly, he is busy administering oath of secrecy on his staff.

Giwa Amu, another lawyer, said the exercise is in contravention of the constitution "and this action will go a long way to hamper the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill." The oath-taking came in the wake of reports in the media about the state of health of the president, following the president’s 17-day absence in the country. Up till now, the Presidency is yet to account for the 17 days, although officials had stated that the president went to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj.

Public concerns about the president came as he spent a much longer time for a religious ritual that normally lasts a few hours. Last week, the controversy over the president’s health claimed a victim in Channels Television shut down by the National Broadcasting Commission, over a report that the president may resign after a cabinet shuffle. The information was said to have emanated from the official news agency of government, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. But NAN said the report was the handiwork of hackers.

Also commenting on the development, Bamidele Aturu said the news of the oath of secrecy sworn by senior aides of the Preisdent and his vice is a very embarrasing one indeed. "It sends the wrong signal that the present administration would rather want to exclude the people from its activities and thus deny us the right to participate in shaping our nation and lives. It is a great irony that a government that insists it has zero tolerance for corruption can fall back on an ancient legislation made by the colonialists in the early 20th century to restrict the flow of information that is so vital to development and democracy," he said. Aturu explained that what the president had done was a clear breach of freedom of those who took the oath to freely express themselves. "Without doubt, the Official Secrets Act has no place in our aspiration to build a democratic society. It is an Act that aids corruption and oppression.

The only people who will benefit from the Act and the regime of opaqueness in government business are the looters and their cronies; this is another blunder committed by the administration. "Would they rather we all swear to this oath, say at midnight on one chosen day? For I cannot see how this oath can be effective without swearing all the cleaners, drivers and messengers in Aso Rock!" He urged The National Assembly to do its duty and repeal the Act immediately. "From the government, we demand no less than an apology for insulting our democratic sensitivity and sensibility. Oath of secrecy by people paid from the public treasury is unacceptable and ridiculous," Aturu said.