The Olori (also known as the supreme leader) of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity, Otunba Francis Meshioye, has said the organisation has been wrongly labelled a secret cult by members of the society who lack the patience to examine their teachings. He stated this at a recent unveiling of the fraternity’s centenary celebration in Ikeja, Lagos. According to him, the ROF fulfils its obligations to relevant government agencies like other incorporated entities, files returns at the Corporate Affairs Commission, conducts meetings in public places and teaches members to imbibe high moral standards and be law-abiding. He added, “The biggest challenge that many fraternities have is the impatience of those who are not their members to examine their purposes with open minds and without prejudice. A pure and investigative mind that is searching for unbiased understanding should possess these qualities. “Many people create mental stereotypes on what the fraternity should be or how its members should or must look like.” Meshioye said some intending members had withdrawn their applications on the knowledge of the high moral standards they were expected to comply with. “Many believe that they can perpetrate criminality when they become our members, they are also disappointed when they are informed of the need to uphold high morals and to be obedient to every law in the country they live,” he said. The leader said members would not engage in unnecessary debates to change what he described as public misconception about them but would conquer “the unfairness with pure thoughts, good words and honourable deeds”. He described the spread of the organisation and the growth of membership as the greatest achievement of ROF in the past 100 years. Meshioye said the fraternity had grown from the six initiates that started it on December 18, 1914 to its current 1.5 million members, fostering unity and love among people of diverse religions, political affiliations, professions and race. Copyright PUNCH

juju people