The Church and the 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.