"Oga".... This three letter word is unique to Nigeria and ubiquitous.
Oga connotes power.
The man in charge.
Oga exists in
every house, office, corner store, establishment, you name it - there's an Oga.
No one knows the etymology of Oga and no one cares.
"Oga" is the demigod that controls decisions and whose countenance can mean doom for the unwary minion.
Even when there's no Oga, Nigerians would invent one. Oga's word is law. Oga is unquestionable.
In crisis, Nigerians look for an Oga to take charge and tell them what to do. Sometimes there are multiple Ogas, so they are qualified;
- big Oga,
- small Oga,
- that yellow Oga.
- that fat Oga
- that tall Oga
- that Oga wey dey wear glass
- that Oga wey dey drive that car
Oga has privileges that ordinary men don't have....
This Oga mentality is at the core of how most Nigerians think. How close are you to Oga? Are you an Oga or an aspiring Oga? Are you the Oga at the top?
It would take time for some Nigerians to realize that the democratic principle is built on the belief that all men are equal. We choose one among us to lead and we support him; we can also look around and bring an Oga to rule over us. Oga!
Written by Wole Abu
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