The case of Ola without fire

By Andrew Agbese

‘Ola’ is the Idoma word for ‘fire.’

There was this uncle of mine who years back, had a neighbour called ‘Ola.’

Going by Ola’s penchant for doing things, always threatening people in the neighborhood coupled with his gra gra and proclivity for exhibitionism, my uncle concluded that the word must have the same meaning in Yoruba since the man exhibits so much fire in his mien.

The day however came for Ola’s fire to be tested when he was engaged in fisticuffs with another neighbour, but Ola could not live up to his name.

Instead of standing to exchange blows with the man who was vigorously throwing punches at him, Ola, (wait for this) took to his heels.

It was that day my uncle decided to inquire and was told that Ola means something different in Yoruba and not the fire it means in Idoma.

If you think this piece is not about Ola but about a certain white lion who failed the test when it was time for him to live up to his name, then I’ll respond by echoing what IBB told a reporter when he was asked if it is true that he was warming up to contest for the presidency in 2011 and he quipped “your insinuation is not incorrect!”