[Naijanet] WHAT THE CHURCH GOT TO DO WITH OGBONI ?
jojo
Sunday, December 31, 2000
What Has The Church Got To Do With Ogboni?
The Reformed Ogboni Fraternity (ROF) was formed by a reverend gentleman in
1914. Dickson Adeyanju traces the origin of this society which is looked upon
with suspicion by non-members, and shows its enduring allure for clergymen and
other professed Christians.
MORE than any other factor, nationalistic instincts may have motivated the
formation of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity (ROF) by the late Venerable Thomas
Adesina Jacob Ogunbiyi. The ROF was launched on December 18, 1914 at an
impressive ceremony at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Ebute Ero in
central Lagos.
By then, the British colonial government had frowned at the running of the
local governments particularly in Yorubaland by what could be termed the
Ogboni Mafia. In 1892, the Ogboni Fraternity in Ijebu-Ode was banned by the
colonialists while they equally dismantled the Ogboni supremacy in Abeokuta by
compelling the Egbas to form the Egba United Government in 1898.
The clergyman saw the gradual erosion of the age-long institution of
government in parts of Yoruba land as a tool by the colonial government to
suppress the nationalist aspirations of Nigerians. which was why he founded
the ROF. It was a modernised version of the Ogboni Aborigines, and effectively
became a counterfoil to the Freemason which was being used by the colonialist
to stifle nationalist agitations.
in this endeavour Ogunbiyi was later to be assisted by other Nigerians,
including the late Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, former Chief Justice of Nigeria who
later served as the Olori Oluwo (Supreme head) of the organisation for over 40
years. Also in the team were Dr. O. Obasa, Rev. W.B. Euba, M.S. Cole, Sir
Adeyemo Alakija and Chief Oladeinde Lawson, among others.
Those who gathered under the canopy of the ROF were unhappy with the ceaseless
attacks of the clergy and other Christians who belonged to the traditional
Ogboni fraternity which had existed as part of the Yoruba culture since the
sixteen century.
It was recognised by Ogunbiyi and his co-founders that complaint over certain
aspects of the operations of the society did not make it popular.
Available literature on the early beginnings of the ROF shows that parts of
its objectives include the worship of God with binding oaths and equally
enforce the moral code of Christians in genuine brotherhood.
Many other Christians could not be convinced of the intentions of Ogunbiyi who
was then the highest ranking Nigerian in the Anglican communion. Bishops
Tugwell and Oluwole led this crusade and Ogunbiyi's ordination licence was
withdrawn. He opted out of Holy Trinity Church in Ebute-Ero and founded his
own Archdeacon T.A.J. Ogunbiyi Anglican Church in Ikeja. The large compound up
till today houses the headquarters of ROF and the church. Ogunbiyi licence
was, however, restored by Archbishop L.G. Vining and he returned to Holy
Trinity Church where his burial service was held on July 25, 1952.
There are those who still commend Ogunbiyi's efforts to infuse the Christian
ethics into the practices of the traditional Ogboni society. It was then
called Ogboni Onigbagbo (Christian Ogboni) and the leaders said it was derived
from the book of Prophet Ezekiel chapter 23 verse 23 which in Yoruba Bible
read awon Ogboni ti Oni Okiki (great and renowned lords). The rank of its
membership quickly rose particularly among the members of the clergy priests
from mostly the Anglican, Catholic, Methodist and Baptist Churches embraced
the ROF.
The ideals for which it was formed were convincing enough to attract notable
clerics such as the late Archbishop Vining after whom the Anglican Cathedral
of the Lagos West diocese in Ikeja was named. He joined along with another
Scottish missionary, Rev. W.F. Macllor.
Among the traditional African Churches, it is well entrenched and according to
one of the priests, the African Church in purging it of the influences of the
traditional Ogboni such as late night meetings and being engaged in fetish
things.
At meetings, procedures are conducted in the manner of a church service where
Christian hymns are sung and prayers offered. To many of the priests who still
belong to it, it is just an extension of their church services particularly on
Sundays.
However, the growing disdain for secret societies has almost robbed the ROF of
its laudable objectives of making a just and perfect society. The society is
one of those listed by almost every church as a secret society and their
members barred from joining it. This view is being championed by the radical
elements within these churches.
In the Methodist Church for example the radical Methodist Evangelical Movement
is opposed to it. This group protested and attempted to stop the funeral
service for late Olu Holloway, the immediate past Oluwo of ROF, at the Wesley
Cathedral in Olowogbowo, Lagos on account of Holloway's membership of ROF
which the group regarded as secret society.
In the same manner, the Catholic Church declined to conduct funeral mass for
the first indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola when he
died. Rather, the Church explained after much criticism that what was done for
him was merely a Bible service-two readings from the scripture, a talk and
then prayers. The corpse was not accompanied to the cemetery by any priest.
Although it is hard to establish, it was generally believed that Sir
Adetokunbo's membership of ROF deprived him of the Knighthood of the church,
even as a devoted member. He was knighted rather by the Queen of England.
Catholic Church lists, ROF as one of the "Secret societies'' which are not
allowed in the church.
Inspite of such cold reception the membership of ROF has over the years kept
on growing among the clergy of these notable churches. However, their
membership are kept top secret. Many of them according to investigations by
The Guardian On Sunday believe that if priests such as the late Ogunbiyi and
Vining could be members, there is nothing wrong with their membership of ROF.
"If you read the history of these men, they are upright and dedicated to their
callings. If they could volunteer to belong to ROF, it means they must have
seen some good things in the organisation. Although it has been along time
now, some of their practices must have changed which make the outside world to
see them as being a secret society, but some priests are still convinced about
the principles of the society. Such membership is jealously guided. It must
not be known or exhibited in any way,'' a fairly old and experienced Anglican
priest told The Guardian On Sunday.
Faced with the criticism of large membership in the ROF, the former Primate of
the Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Joseph Adetitoye adopted a system which he
said would stem the growing membership.
Before a meeting of either the Bishops, the priests or the laity, every one
takes oath of not belonging to any secret society or to renounce such a
membership. This practice is religious adhered to.
This is also applicable to the Methodist who has even taken a more critical
step by denying such people known to belong to the society burial rites.
The Baptist at a conference in Jos in the 1980s in a move ofpurging itself of
the allegation of its members being in secret societies called for a
renunciation by all those who participated in the Jos convention. Those who
could not make the renunciation opted out of the main Baptist body.
The ROF has a constitution that regulates its actions. Membership is also
limited to those who profess Islam or Christianity.
As stated in the constitution, it is established to promote universal
fatherhood of God ñ the all seeing eyeñand the universal brotherhood of man;
to encourage charity and chastity; to assist members who are poor or in
distress; to uphold the injunction 'do unto others as you may wish they do
unto you.'
Sir Adetokunbo who was the head for over 40 years, in an interview shortly
before his death in 1993 absolved the society of secrecy.
"I'm in the ROF and it is quite different from the local Ogboni. There was
nothing bad about ROF. Nothing at all. People just condemn it without having
access to facts... we believe that Africa has its own culture which should not
be destroyed but rather should be nurtured to complement what ever religious
faith that members might have embraced,'' the eminent jurist said.
To enforce its openness, members of the society, according to the late
Holloway, are not permitted to hold meetings in any part of the world after
7pm. He said the society does not also dabble into politics and it keeps its
affairs to itself.
One of the clergy who could only openly identify with ROF in the public was
Rev. S.C. Sopein, the Primate of the United Spiritual Church of Nigeria.
At an interdenominational service for Sir Adetokunbo at Ake Palace 'before his
burial in February 1993, Sopein denounced those who see ROF as a secret
society.
The fraternity, the Primate noted, like any other religious sects sought to
teach people to see the light and lead people to obtain everlasting joy.
Notable Nigerians leaders such as the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Oba Adesoji
Aderemi, late Ooni of Ife, Oba Oladapo Ademola; late Ladoke Akintola and most
Yoruba Obas are associated with the fraternity.
One of the many wars it has to battle is a Bill now being debated in the
National Assembly which seeks to ban all those who belong to secret societies
from holding public office. ROF along with some other societies has petitioned
the National Assembly over the proposed Bill. The outcome of the debate will
once again re-define the public perception of the fraternity.
Perceptions Of Ogboni
By
Lekan Fadeyi
"THE Egba Ogboni is an assembly of important chiefs who are in charge of
administration and ensure good governance in Egbaland. They settle and
adjudicate matters while maintaining law and order. So to say that the Ogboni
is a secret cult is a gross misrepresentation."
That statement by the late Apena of Egbaland, Chief Toye Coker (SAN) though
coined in good prose and sublime imagery, represent a ready defence given by
an average member of Ogboni fraternity on its status which to many non-members
is a secret society to be avoided.
In some parts of the country like the Igbomina speaking part of Kwara State,
whoever is in Ogboni is seen as harbouring devilish thoughts and capable of
harming others. There is the general belief that whoever is a member donates
either his or her child or loved ones at appointed intervals.
It is believed that when you greet an elderly member of the sect and he places
his or her hand on your head, you are already earmarked to be enlisted into
the society.
Though the Ogbonis exist in most parts of the country including that of
Igbomina speaking part of Kwara, go about their businesses in secrecy.
"That is the way Ogbonis behave in the past. They are not known, you don't
boast about your membership and you are not even admitted into the fold until
you are matured enough to be able to keep secret or get adequately punished
for revealing secrets," explains the Olori Oluwo Ogboni Olufe, Chief Adeleke
Oyenuga.
According to him, though the Ogbonis of whatever extractions are not allowed
to do anything devilish, they are encouraged to stand by one another as they
are taught to see themselves as brethren. Which is why they are referred to as
Omo Iya. "It is our tradition to be ever ready to assist our fellow Omo Iyas
maybe that is why they say we are in a cult," he emphasised.
If Oyenuga who is also the Oluwo Alakoso of Ogboni Aborigine Fraternity of
Nigeria (Ikorodu Division) is mincing words about the openness of the Ogboni,
Prince Olufunmiwa Awopeju in his book Awo Tabi Egbe Okunkun stated that all
societies including government have their constitutional rights to choose
venue and mode of their meetings.
"If what they are accusing us of is the oath that we swear before being
initiated, all state governments have their way of swearing to oaths, all top
civil servants also do. What their problem is, is that we don't allow the
non-initiators to witness all that we do, such things are practised in the
churches and mosques do it too," he stated.
Asked to state when the traditional Ogboni was created, the Oluwo Ogboni
Aborigine, Iledi Iyadamilola I, Imota Chief Emmanuel Olatunji Akinyemi said
nobody could say when Ogboni started. "What is known about Ogboni is that they
existed before the advent of colonialism, they ruled with the Oba, they
governed and adjudicated matters in traditional ways and they were so
meticulous that even when the colonialists came, they found the system so
formidable that they coudn't tamper with it," he explained.
Of all the different extractions of the Ogboni such as the Osugbo Ibile or
Abalaye, Aborigine, Ogboni Akala, Ogboni Ogeneten, Ogboni Arapanika, Imule
Ogboni, Ogboni Otufe and the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity (ROF), only the ROF
has records showing that it was established by Ven. Archdeacon Thomas Adesina
Jackson Ogunbiyi on December 18, 1914.
Inspite of the Ogboni's name that is common to them all, the practices differ
along with the calibre of candidates accepted for initiation. For instance,
while the ROF will not accept male members of less that 21 years of age and
female members of less than 30 years of age, all other extractions may admit
people of lower ages.
ROF, according to its Olori Apena Otunba David Adekunle Olaiya Adeniji,
emphasises that membership shall be opened to only those who embrace faith in
God and who do not fancy being fetish as a way of life. It is not clear if
others believe in this principle.
But observations by The Guardian On Sunday revealed that most members of all
the extractions belong to either Christianity or Islam, indicating that their
member of Ogboni is just a way of socializing and ensuring that fraternal
assistance is available when the needs arise.
When accosted on why there is no age limit for membership of the Aborigine for
example, Chief Akinyemi stated that since Moslems and Christians go to mosque
or church with their wives and children, there should be no big deal about age
limit. "Afterall, should we not take our families to worship with us?" he
queried.
To Oyenuga who is also an Oluwo in the Aborigine, lack of an institutionalised
age limit for members is a disadvantage. He rationalises: "That is why the ROF
is better, they initiates only mature members who are able to keep secret and
whoever is found flouting their rules is old enough to receive punishment"
While Akinyemi saw nothing commendable in the activities of the ROF whose
founder, Ogunbiyi he said reformed nothing, Oyenuga, full of praises for the
first Olori Apena of ROF, Archideacon Ogunbiyi says, ROF is a role model: "I
have never being a member of the ROF, I am a titled chief in all others. I
have discovered that the ROF is organised. Pa Ogunbiyi achieved his aim. He
founded ROF so that Aborigine will not tarnish its image and those who took
over from him have maintained that stand."
However, Akinyemi questions Ogunbiyi's motive for establishing ROF saying, "he
was our Apena, he only moderated the original, he didn't want to be seen, a
pastor, a reverend being a member of the Ogboni. He founded ROF to cover up.
Let the ROF come up with what they have reformed."
Apart from the enmity clauses, in section 15:24a-c of the revised, re-arranged
and enlarged 1998 constitution of the ROF, the membership of the Aborigine is
discouraged for the ROF whose members are constantly encouraged to associate
for the promotion of the principle of Universal Fatherhood of God ñ the
All-seeing Eye, the Universal Brotherhood of man, without any discrimination
as to race, colour, creed, sex, religion or political affiliation.
While section 15:24a states expressly that no member of ROF should become a
member or have himself or herself initiated into the Aboriginal concave, it
prescribed dismissal for defaulting members.
Despite the seeming differences in all the extractions of the Ogboni, it was
observed that while supremacy is a factor that will not allow them unite to
have a common identity, the Ogboni Geede or Osugbo Abalaye generally believed
to belong to the Oba's titled chiefs is unique in that its members place their
Itagbe on the right shoulder as against others, placing theirs on the left
shoulders.
While bickerings exist among the various extractions, they have a common
antagonist in the church. The antagonism which is total is seen as emanating
from the belief that Ogbonis are fetish and anti-God. That notion still holds
especially as there are moves by some members of the House of Representatives
to proscribe the society.
In his preface to a pamphlet The church and the fraternities, the Olori Apena
of ROF, Otunba Adeniyi accused the church of adopting the pivotal and most
vital commandments of love thy neighbours as thy self, in theory and teach
them as a doctrine, but in actual fact fail to show convincing evidence to its
followers that they do practice them.
According to Adeniyi the fraternal societies which they termed secret
societies, are reformed through doctrine, inspiration and guidance and hence
faithful servants of the Supreme Ruler and Father of the Universe.
"The church is ignorant of the fact that our works are complimentary, they do
not know that we are co-workers with and progress of man," he said.
The Guardian On Sunday's observations are that the Ogbonis are particularly
bothered that the church is guilty of milking their members while alive to
develop the church only to be denied as soon as they are dead.
While the wound of the bitter treatment meted to the remains of Madam Ethel
Finecountry on September 26, 1986 at the St. Cyprian Church, Port Harcourt has
not healed, the late Olori Oluwo, Otunba Oluwole Holloway suffered the same
fate in Lagos. Holloway was considered to be so useful to the Methodist church
while alive.
The question for a long time will therefore remain why the reoccurrence of
bitterness each time a Christian member of the Ogboni society passes on to the
great beyond? "We should be able to know our stand amongst them while we live
rather than for us to labour in the vineyard and be despised at the end of it
all," Otunba Abiodun Alfred Oshowole, the Olori Oluwo of the ROF argues.
Oshowole said the problem people have in defining Ogboni is the Yoruba meaning
of the word. "In the Holy scriptures, for instance, in Ezekiel 23 verse 23,
the expression "Great Lords and renowned" is translated in the Yoruba version
as "Awon Ogboni ti oni okiki"
According to him, the word refers to a distinguished personage who assists in
the administration of a domain. "This is why in Yoruba towns and communities,
the highest council of chiefs comprise the Ogbonis. Holders of this title are
not fetish or idol worshipers but they are the administrators of their
communities, guiding the Obas," he said.
Requested to comment on the notion that the remains of dead members are
tampered with before burial, he explained that it is entrenched in their
constitution that they should "see to the mortal remains of any deceased
members by providing a coffin or financial assistance up to a reasonable cost
and to give his or her remains a decent deposit in the bosom of mother earth.
"If that is what our constitution enjoins us to do and we do all that in the
presence of family of the deceased brethren, I wonder who would allow the
remans of his or her beloved one to be mutilated," the Olori Oluwo said.
While ordering that The Guardian On Sunday be taken round all rooms, offices
and temples in the international headquarters of his fraternity, Oshowole
said: "We are of God and our activities are founded in the Holy scriptures. We
make good Christians better and that is what we owe Nigeria as a nation."
'ROF Is Not A Secret Society'
OTUNBA David Adekunle Olaiya Adeniji was until his retirement in 1976 a deputy
commissioner of police. Though he is close to 90 years, he is the Olori Apena
of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity (ROF).
This position which he started occupying in 1982 has placed him second to the
Olori Oluwo of the fraternity worldwide and atop the administration of a
fraternity which boasts of over 700 Iledis (branches).
Otunba Adeniji in this interview with Staff Reporter Lekan Fadeyi explains
that ROF exists to aid better appreciation of God by mortals. Excerpts.
A lot of controversies have surrounded the institution of Ogboni. Would you
want to tell us what the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity (ROF) is?
ROF is anything clean, holy, transparent and honourable. It doesn't have
anything to do with the use of fetish means, and that has been the mode of
events since that fraternity was founded in 1914, the same year that Nigeria
was annalgameted, by an Anglican Archdeacon, late Thomas Adesina Jacobson
Ogunbiyi. So if Nigeria is celebrating annual festival of its birth, we are
also celebrating. ROF since incorporation in 1934 is reviewed every 10 years.
ROF was founded at Isale-Eko and named Christian Ogboni, but when friends and
wellwishers of Archdeacon Ogunbiyi saw and marvelled at what had been founded
ñ both male, female christians and non-christians applied to join and the
society could no longer be called Christian Ogboni. That brought about its
change of name to Reformed Ogboni Fraternity.
If it was established by a clergyman like you said, for church members, why
the name Ogboni?
What baffles many people and even church members is the name Ogboni. But their
worry would have not been necessary if they bothered to find out what Ogboni
means.
Ogboni is a circle of elderly, wise people who advise the Oba on matters
affecting the town ñ they stand by the Oba day and night, they are always in
the Oba's court.
In those days they ruled the town in such a way that whatever disputes arising
in the town is settled. In modern days, we call them Oba's court. Even when
the Europeans came they met the institution ñ they wanted to find out ways of
banning it but they discovered it was a formidable society.
Again they discovered the do's and dont's. They were pleased that it was a
peaceful society. What you should do is to find out about the history of
Abeokuta ñ the Ogboni history in Abeokuta.
Why then do people have to fear Ogboni? It is because they are always upright
in whatever they do. They are always firm in their decisions and they are not
given to acting under the influence of sentiments. Then if they say someone
should be killed that person is killed because their judgement is based on
transparent investigation.
I can also assure you that the manner of making enquiries is representative
and judgement sound. For instance, if you were accused of murder or theft,
emissaries were sent to the paths leading to the stream or paths leading to
the farm to eavesdrop on what passer-by would say about the accused persons.
If per adventure the majority message is it serves him right, this is not his
first time ñ that person is allowed to face the judgement. But if they say
that person is not bad, it is a mistake that person is eventually set free.
So judgement then was people-oriented, whatever message brought to the Oba
determines at the end of the day what becomes of an accused. It constituted a
major part of adjudication in whatever matter and Ogboni used to coordinate
them.
If that was the original concept of the Ogboni, how come that restrictions are
placed on movement whenever they are in sessions. Is it to prevent people from
understanding their ways?
I want to tell you that even then, there wasn't anything fetish. What they do
each time they were less busy was to beat drum, eat, drink and entertain
themselves.
They have a room, separate from the Agbala where they meet with the Oba; it
was there that they keep their drums and dance. Only those who are trusted can
join them.
It is in that set-up that they kill goat, ram and entertain themselves; it is
only if you belong to that circle that you can join them in merry making. If
you don't belong you wouldn't understand what they do and you could allege
anything.
I tell you this simply because myself as a prince had been introduced to that
inner cycle. That is what we do ñ we tax ourselves; you will give us food next
month, you will supply drink and if per chance any of them dies, the Osugbo
will come out with their drums. If you are not one of them, you run inside,
that is the Osugbo coming, they go to where they are to perform, they don't
kill, they don't eat the dead body of anybody. They beat drum, they dance,
make merry for about two hours before they retreat to their base.
Can we then be let into the difference between that Ogboni and the ROF
extraction if there are any?
The one that existed before ROF was founded at Isale Eko on December 18, 1914
by Ven. Archdeacon Ogunbiyi was a different kind of Ogboni. There are still so
many of them now.
Our aims and objectives in ROF which we are proud to divulge to even
non-members at any time includes that we want to associate for the promotion
of the principle of Universal Fatherhood of God ñ the All-Seeing Eye, and
Universal Brother of Man, without any discrimination as to race, colour,
creed, sex, religion or political affiliation.
We also associate for the principal purpose of knowing God better such that
all the undertakings of the fraternity will be in accordance with His Holy
will. Our major concern is to make good men, Christian or Moslems better men.
We encourage the diffusion of the practice of benevolence, charity and
chastity.
Our aims and objectives also include the offer of assistance (as a bounding
duty) to all poor and distressed members and non-members, without detriment to
themselves and their connections, or injustice to others who are not members
of the fraternity.
While striving to inculcate in all members, the constant practice of the
golden rule, "do unto others (members and non-members) as one would wish them
do unto him", we ensure that as responsible citizens our members keep and obey
the laws and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and those of any
other country in which one resides.
It is our duty to see to the mortal remains of any deceased member by
providing a coffin or financial assistance up to a reasonable cost and to give
his/her remains a decent deposit in the bossom of mother earth. And of course
we provide necessary funds, for the successful prosecution of the business of
the fraternity, accordingly.
How do you draw your membership and what are your beliefs?
We believe in God as Father of all who is all-seeing, and ROF is based on the
ancient rites, usages and customs of our forefathers.
As to the question of membership we do not advertise, we don't canvass people.
Whoever wants to join must believe and embrace a non-idolatrous faith in God.
Such an applicant must have attained at least age 21 if male, and 40 if
female. But a wife of a member may be initiated if she is not less than 30. A
member may also propose for admission a female offspring or near relation who
is a spinster or divorcee of not less than 30 years of age on giving a written
undertaking of good behaviour of such applicant. We place premium on it ñ that
any female applicant who is married at the time of application and whose
husband is not a member of the fraternity must produce a letter of consent
from her husband.
What then is the relationship between ROF and other religions?
We should say complimentary in that we strive to make our good christian
brethren become better christians. Even those who wouldn't go to church are
encouraged to go.
ROF is not a religious body and it is not also a secret society. The most
interesting thing is that despite the innovations introduced into Christianity
by Archdeacon Ogunbiyi, be became an object of persecution by the church when
he introduced ROF into the spiritual life of Christianity. If they had an
enquiring mind like your paper is doing today, they would have realised that
the ROF is only complimentary to all christian religions (by whatever name
called). While I am sure time will come when all shall know that the R.OF is
the salt of the earth and the light of the word, it continues to baffle me why
Nigerian clergy suppress and condemn our customs and institutions. Is it just
because it is African?
Am also sure that there will be a time when it will be clear to all that the
salt of R.O.F prevents corruption while its light illuminates the faith and
inspires the weak as well as the strong, before men and women alike, to lead a
better life.
Don't you think that your ways rather than the African nature of your
fraternity could be the reason why the church is strongly antagonistic to your
existence?
I don't see what we do here that is extraordinary. We hold meetings in groups
and whoever has not attained a given height is not allowed in.
If the church is holding the meeting of Council of Bishops, do they allow
everybody to be there? What operates is that whoever is not part of us is
against us ñ if you have not been initiated, you can't participate in our
meetings.
Again if you say the church is against us because we, like other societies,
have our secrets how come the Europeans do not kick against a similar thing
that they call Freemason? They don't worship juju there, rather they instruct
themselves on better ways to practice Christianity.
Even at that they don't admit whoever has not been initiated into that society
to attend their functions, same thing occurs to the Ogboni fraternity. So
since Ogboni was founded right from Ile-Ife, it has stood the test of time.
Many have made this enquiry and have been told the truth; those who want to
hear should hear while whoever wants to continue to say it is fetish should
continue. I am convinced that whoever has been in it will be more
knowledgeable about it.
Some people who have been in it have came out to allege that some condemnable
acts are perpetuated in your midst. What do you have to say about this?
Some of them, I mean who say these things about us were either unable to pass
our screening and become members or that they were sent out for flouting our
rules. Some of them say all sorts of nonsense because they couldn't fellowship
with us.
Some of them would even have told you that this building is juju or that we
kill people. I want to tell you that there is nowhere in the whole of this
building where rams are slaughtered. If we kill and carry babies like they
have often alleged, the police would have been here, this being a metropolitan
town. What I mean is that you can't see members of the R.O.F getting involved
in any crime or conniving with anybody to perpetuate crimes. We do our things
in very religious ways. We don't just admit people. We only take people who
have discovered that our members are exceptional in their neighbourhood.
What is exit like for the initiated who want to opt out?
Easy, anybody can get out of it at whatever stage of initiation or membership
since they were not forced to join in the first place.
Burial of late members has always brought you at loggerheads with the church.
What could be responsible?
It is time that in most cases burial in the problem, but again our christian
brothers have been unfair and in most cases insincere to our departed
brethren.
Remember I cited the fact that Ven. Archdeacon Ogunbiyi was castigated at the
introduction of ROF despite other innovations of his in the church. Look at
the case of our late Olori Oluwo, Oludare Holloway. He was very useful to the
Methodist Church ñ they knew he was in R.O.F but couldn't do away with him
while he was living.
The question is why does the church use our members to make name and money
while they were alive and only shout to complain about their membership of
R.OF after death.
We only go to burials when invited by family of the dead. We don't want to
quarrel with the church, so if anybody dies today and the family says they
don't want R.O.F there we keep off; if the church doesn't want us there we
will step aside.
If we are invited to participate we do whatever in the presence of the
deceased family, how then can we be removing parts of their departed, beloved
in their presence? If we are invited we don't cost the deceased family half
penny. We provide for ourselves and friends who will like to join us. We only
follow them to the burial ground and come back.
Members of R.O.F are members of one church or the other. We don't all belong
to one church. So we see these people who preach against us and say what does
not apply as nonetities; people who do not know what they are doing. They are
all telling lies and flouting the commandment of God that forbids lying.
We Are Misunderstood, Says Oyenuga
Chief Adeleke Oyenuga is, apart from being an Oluwo in the Ogboni Aborigine
fraternity of Nigeria and oversees, the Oluwo Alakoso of Ikorodu Division of
the fraternity.
In this interview with Staff Reporter, LEKAN FADEYI, Oyenuga who is also the
Olori Oluwo of Ogboni Iwase Otufe of Nigeria said traditional worshippers are
misrepresented. Excerpts:
CAN you give us a brief history of Ogboni society. I mean how it started, when
and who started it.
I cannot say specifically when Ogboni started. I am not sure anybody can be so
specific about it but one thing I am sure of is that so many people are
incorrect when they say Labosinde owns Aborigine. Aborigine was started by a
Dojo of Adore who is now late and whose name I do not know.
Labosinde was a teacher and thus had the luck of being literate to side track
the Deji. He Labosinde, was also the secretary of the society then. As to
when, let me state here again that I have not heard anybody specifying that
Ogboni started in year 'A' or 'B'.
Can we have you list some of the renowned Ogboni extractions and their
similarities?
First we have the Osugbo gbede which is normally referred to as being owned by
the Oba. This is for the Oba's chiefs. There is Ogboni Aborigine fraternity of
Nigeria, there is Iwule Ogboni and it is believed to be for the elderly four.
Firstly we have Ogboni Otu Ife, there is Ogboni Arapa Nika, this came from
Akoko in Ondo State, there is Ogboni Ara Ife, there is Ogboni Akala, and there
is Ogboni Agamasa, Ogboni Ogenete and also the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity
(ROF) which came out of Ogboni Aborigine. I belong to all but the ROF.
What differences exist in their mode of operations and can they be united?
There are so many differences in that their mode of worship differ even though
they all worship Edan which is Gold like.
If you look at the fact that even if you are a member of the Aborigine and not
initiated to Ogboni Osugbo, you can't just say because you are initiated into
Aborigine. You can go and join Osugbo when they are performing. If you do, you
will suffer the consequence. That is the way it is with all of them.
The Osugbo's being titled chief of the Oba can however attend functions of the
Aborigine because they are respected members of the society.
It is therefore not expressly possible for a member of one society to
gatecrash into another's. The Aborigine in most cases can worship with the ROF
because ROF migrated from the Aborigine and their language can be spoken by
the Aborigine. It is language (mode of communications that betrays whoever
wants to impersonates.
There is this belief especially in ROF that the fraternity does not owe its
existence to the Aborigine. How come you are saying ROF was extracted from
Aborigine?
Whoever is knowledgeable should know that ROF was extracted from the Aborigine
by the late Baba Ogunbiyi.
Pa Ogunbiyi was an Apena in Aborigine before he travelled abroad to discover
that Ogboni as it was then practised was wrongly practised and can be better
structured and practised. When you look at what Ogunbiyi's Reformed Ogboni
Fraternity is doing you will realise that it is only the imbeciles that will
call Ogboni a secret society.
Those who say Ogboni is a secret society are in darkness. Ogboni is white and
clean in nature and the fact that they have some secrets that are strategic to
their operations and which the uninitiated do not know does not mean it should
be called a secret society. Some will say they severe their heads, they cut
their neck, they are never buried whole but I tell you whoever is in it will
be surprised that so this is Ogboni.
What then will make you join these societies that are not comfortable
practising in the open?
I am a traditionalist to the core and have discovered that membership of these
societies among other things is usually helpful; it provides assistance in
troubled times; if one as a member lacks anything, the brethren will rally
round him. Again if one is wrongly punished or afflicted, it is normally the
duty of the society to collectively ensure that the person is arraigned and
thirdly they are always fourably disposed to helping each other first before
helping a non member. So whoever says traditional grouping such as Ogboni is a
secret society is an illiterate and an imbecile.
Lets go back to the issue of similarity in the operation of these societies.
What unite them?
All Ogbonis believe in Edan and whichever Iledi that is sure footed and
properly established must have four female Edan and one male which is known as
the Ajagunmale which is the heavenly Oluwo.
If you now look closely again, you will discover that we have three societies
out of the about ten that I mentioned initially who have another thing in
addition to the Edan. They have what is called Onile, which is different from
Edan but often called Edan by those who are not knowledgeable.
Onile is like a status, it is the first to be seen at any Iledi that has it,
it normally stands like meandering and that is why those who are verse in the
history of Ogboni will say it is the Onile that you first greet before Edan.
Ogboni Osugbo gbede or Ogboni Abalaye which is Awo Oba has Onile and Edan,
Ogboni Imule has Onile, it also has Edan and Arapa nika Onikere mefa also has.
These three have Onile, others don't have and whoever is a member of these
societies know that it is the onile that you first greet before you proceed to
Edan. They perform different functions and these functions are not for me to
tell you because you are not initiated into the societies.
There is the belief that the manner in which Awos practice today has taken the
shine out of traditional societies. What are your views?
It is true that we the youths have messed up a lot of things today. In the
olden days you don't know an Awo from an Ogbo but today we raise shoulders
about. You see small children going about today to tell their friends that
they are Awo and revealing the things they see the elderly ones do in Iledis.
Before now you are not qualified to become an Awo until you are 35 years of
age. At that age you are old enough to be punished for offences you commit as
an Awo. You are expected to have attained maturity that compels you to be able
to keep secret.
But today if anybody brings in money to join, that person is instantly given
the highest title in the Iledi. This is wrong and that is why we are having
problems.
So what is causing our problems is that the right steps taken by our
forefathers who started the institution of Awo are not strictly adhered to
now. Let me tell you whatever is different from the original is fake and there
is no way you can find a way round it.
There appears to be an unhealthy relationship between your societies and other
religious groups especially Islam and Christianity. What is responsible for
this?
The problem we have with other people especially Muslims and Christians is
that they are not sincere with themselves. We have their Prophets, Pastors,
Evangelists, Alhajis, Alhajas and Imams as our members and because of the fact
that we are sure of what we are doing, we will never go out of our own way to
preach against them. He who does that is definitely without focus. When you
see them preach against societies you should know instantly that they lack
focus. 90 percent of them are our members.
They castigate us, but we will never do a thing like that because what they
are after is for their churches and mosques to be patronised. Ask them
especially those of them who are Yoruba and let them tell you that there is
nothing like spirit, deity that they worship in their family.
Go to where Jesus was born, they call him brother but here in Nigeria the
slogan is Jesus is my savour ñ they have forgotten God and Jesus is their God
today.
Even Muslims are guilty of that offence, they are fond of saying Muhammed is
my creator they are all fools and have nothing to withstand traditional
worshippers. A traditional worshipper will first say in the name of God the
almighty, the omnipotent, the omniscience before he goes to mention the spirit
he wants to talk to. Our God is capable of doing all things how come we will
relegate him to second to anybody. If God rewards iniquity, he would have
destroyed the whole world.
If you look at it again, we were informed that God created three kings ñ
Orunmila, Jesus and Muhammed. Orumila was the first Jesus and Muhammed were
created later.
Before they later came, Orumila had performed so many wonders and miracles in
their foolishness, Christians and Muslims still go against each other. I'm
sure they cannot match the traditional religious worshippers.
What were the things in Ogboni Aborigine that you said Ogunbiyi didn't like
and which compelled him to found ROF?
Pa Ogunbiyi is a diligent awo, he came saw and conquer. He saw so many bad
things that his spirit as a pastor didn't agree with. He was able to reform
all those things and that is why ROF is still great today even after the
founder died.
You will not see an ROF member arguing over a matter. They are so well woven
together by their tenets and nobody can see what goes on among them. Nobody
understands that there is a crack and the moment that is taken away from the
issue than all other things are addendum.
Don't you believe all the Ogbonis should come together under one umbrella
instead of each behaving in its own way?
There is nothing like that, supremacy is what is paramount here. You cannot
expect agarasha or Osugbo gbede to bow for ROF.
ROF is about the most popular now and it is the youngest, it is the last born
of the Ogbonis and that is why each of them is claming supremacy over each
other. Again mode of worship is different and I am not sure any of them will
want its own pattern to go into extinction.
What will be your reactions if government proscribes Ogboni today?
That can not happen, I am sure government wouldn't do it. What students do in
the universities is quite different from what we do; we do not approve of what
students do. No awo will carry machetes and guns to attack a fellow human
being.
Since Ogboni started existing, traditional worshippers only spiritually attack
to whoever is their target. If you consider it, government's threat to disban
traditional societies is not new but they can't do that because our members
who are top government functionaries understand that we are law abiding and
that nothing devilish goes on in our midst.
I am a traditionalist to the core and have discovered that membership of these
societies among other things is usually helpful; it provides assistance in
troubled times; if one as a member lacks anything, the brethren will rally
round him. Again if one is wrongly punished or afflicted, it is normally the
duty of the society to collectively ensure that the person is arraigned and
thirdly they are always fourably disposed to helping each other first before
helping a non member. So whoever says traditional grouping such as Ogboni is a
secret society is an illiterate and an imbecile.
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