Combating the ‘no gree for anybody philosophy’ in Rivers State: A case for progressive political followership 

We entered the new year in Rivers State with the social media on fire over a trending phrase that unfortunately connotes and promotes social, political, and to some extent, economic crisis, and it is firmly rooted in another popular saying: “Dey your dey, make I dey my dey”. 

The governor of the state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, was recently seen in a viral video dancing to the bouncy rhythms of the “Dey your day, make I dey my day” song.

While there is nothing wrong with the Chief Security Officer of the state fiddling with the beats of the now-popular gyration song, however, the message it sends across to the populace tends to burn more social and political bridges that require rapid attention. 

“No gree for anybody” literally means to be conspicuously confrontational in all your dealings. It reflects an unnecessary youthful psychological rebellion against social, economic and political authorities, as it is one of those clichés that push youngsters to exhibit extreme and unguarded tendencies, making them feel extremely good due to the thrills of dopamine rush in their young minds. 

I dare say that this type of social, political, economic, and even religious outlook limits progress. It hinges on the fact that followership has been misconstrued as slavery, and many youths no longer want to practice followership; everyone wants to be the captain of the same ship at the same time. How possible is that? 

The other related trending phrase, which has metamorphosised into a popular song, is also a worrisome narrative. “Dey your dey, make I dey my dey”, is a contemporary ideology that preaches exclusivity rather than inclusivity. It encourages solitude and selfishness as against symbiotic interactions that lead to social integration. 

The political tension in the state has become too palpable, and it behoves the Chief Security Officer, to find ways of dousing the intensity of the situation and managing its ripple effects — it is difficult very difficult for any politically unstable state to make social and economic progress.  

As the former spokesperson of Securing Individual Means (SIM), a support organisation that was committed to the success of Governor Fubara’s election, I stand on that holy pedestal to advise him to imbibe the tenets of political progressivism, which seeks to advance the human condition through impactful social and political engineering that would eventually lead to advancements in sciences, technology, and social organisation. 

Sir Fubara, has countlessly assured Rivers people in various fora that he would abide by the terms of the political agreement facilitated by President Bola Tinubu to end the ugly political crisis in the state, and now is the right time for him to show more respect and commitment to that accord by distancing himself from innuendos, sayings, songs, and dance steps that point to the contrary. 

There is nothing wrong with being a progressive follower, albeit a political one. Everyone can not be the leader at the same time. At every point in life, one individual must carry the mantle of leadership, and what all well-meaning people under his direct or indirect influence should do is support him or her to attain progress in all spheres of leadership. 

Fortunately, the present leader of Rivers politics, Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has set the pace by privately and publicly making moves and statements that conform to President Tinubu’s peace resolution to end the lingering political crisis in the state. 

According to the FCT Minister during a new year luncheon which he hosted in Port Harcourt, last Sunday: “I have preached peace, and I will continue to preach for peace and unity in the state, and I will stand for it. 

“I may not be happy with everything in the peace resolution, but I will not attach any condition to it because I respect Mr. President. I will do everything humanly possible to see to it that his peace arrangement is achieved in Rivers State,” he declared. 

This is a clarion call on all practising and prospective progressive followers in the state to follow suit and give the requisite support to President Tinubu to return the state to the path of peace and enjoy the dividends of the Renewed Hope Agenda. I so move. 

Solomon Nmam Okocha writes from Rumuigbo, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State