Understanding The Slang, “We Nor Go Gree” From The Perspective Of The Three Blind Men And The Elephant story -By Isaac Asabor

There is no denying the fact that it would be hypocritical for this writer to say that he is not been nostalgic as a result of the slang, “We Nor Go Gree” that suddenly became popular in the New Year, 2024. As understood, by virtue of growing up at different times in Agbor in Delta State, at Igbanke in Edo State, in Warri in Delta State and in Benin-city in Edo State; all of which in past eras fell under the jurisdictions of the defunct Midwestern State and Bendel State, where pidgin is majorly spoken by both the young and old as the means of interactive communication on daily basis, it can authoritatively in this context be said that “We Nor Go Gree” interpretatively means not letting anyone bully or cheat you in any deal.

In fact, at the moment, its expression on the streets and on the virtual space, particularly by Netizens is already heating up debate so much so that the police, ostensibly out of anxiety, had warned that the slogan may be a message of rebellion.

According to the Nigerian Police, ‘Nor gree for anybody’ slang which has already gained widespread usage and attention can cause crisis.  Given the foregoing, the Police has expressed its strong discontentment of the trending slang, particularly as been expressed by youths and citizens across the country, ostensibly as some of them might have misunderstood its meaning.

During a press briefing on Wednesday last week, the police, through its spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, warned that it could clamp down on people using the slang, and revealed that they had received intelligence suggesting that the slogan had the potential to incite a revolution within the country.

He said, “Let me say that the new slogan for 2023, 2024 for our young ones is ‘No Go Gree For Anybody.’

“We have been informed from our intelligence that this slogan is coming from a revolutionary sector that may likely cause problem across the country.

“‘No go gree for anybody’ is being seen as just a normal talk, but in security business, in the security community, we have seen it as a very dangerous slogan that can trigger crisis.”

However, at this juncture, it is expedient to look at the now trending slang from the perspective of the three blind men and the elephant story.

As the story goes, six blind men heard that there was an animal called an elephant. They were curious about its shape and form. Out of curiosity, they visited the king’s palace where the elephant was harbored to find out the truth. One of the blind men, whose hand landed on the trunk, said, “This creature is like a thick snake”. For another one whose hand felt its ear, it seemed like a kind of magic carpet. As for another blind man, whose hand was upon its leg, said, the elephant is like a large cow. The blind man who kept his hand upon its side said it is like a wall. Another who felt the elephant’s tail described it as a rope. While all the six men were arguing loudly about the creature, the king suggested they put all the parts together and then imagine the creature.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it will not be out of place to opine that contrary to the fear been expressed by the police that the slang can mischievously be put into action by those it considered to be rebellious, that the slang can also serve as a motivational quote as it can help those who wish to internalize the positive philosophy that is inherent in it, and which it conveys, to cultivate a positive mindset and attitude, which is essential for success in any field.

The foregoing by unarguably be achieved by focusing on the possibilities instead of the limitations, such people can develop a sense of resilience and optimism that can help them overcome obstacles and bounce back from failures. For instance, “I nor go gree for cigar this year”, “This na new year, so I nor go gree for ‘Ogogoro’ or any “Shakis”. In other words, it may be “I nor go gree make anybody dey bring me down this year, so I go dey do wetin nor go make dem dey see me finish”.  Explaining the foregoing resolves coined in pidgin from the perspectives of the blind men and the elephant, it means that anyone that understood the now controversial slang, “We Nor Go Gree” from the positive sides of its meaning will unarguably put it to good use. Who knows, it can even be advantageous to the police as there may be some Nigerians that may bring the patois into action by resolving thus, “I nor go gree for stealing this year” or “I nor go gree for bad, bad, things this year.”

Contrariwise, to any police officer who might have placed his or her hands on another part of this literary elephant called “We Nor Go Gree”, the slogan can be used to attack security operatives while discharging their duties as the issued warning by the police authority indicates.

Buttressing its argument, the police says Slogans have long been used as powerful tools to convey messages and rally support for various causes while expressing the fear that the slogan “We No Go Gree for Anybody” has recently gained popularity among Nigerian youths.  Be that as it may, while the Nigeria Police condemned it, claiming that it might have originated from revolutionary groups, the Nigerian Army embraced it as part of their 2024 slogan.

In fact, in as much as this writer is neither in support of the position which the police has decided to stay in the course of interpreting how the literary elephant called “We Nor Go Gree” look like, and the danger it portends, nor completely in agreement with those that are on another side of the contextual elephant propagating the slogan, “We Nor Go Gree”, particularly on negative or mischievous grounds, it is expedient to recall that the elderlies, back in the days, used to warn the younger ones that “I nor go gree, I nor go gree nor dey pay”, meaning two wrongs can’t make a right.  The reason cannot be farfetched as it is a fallacy that has it that when a wrong is committed another wrong can naturally balance it out.  In fact, it is considered a fallacy because it is an argument based on illogical reasoning.

At this juncture, it is germane to urge the police authority as it has already warned the public on the abuse of the slogans that it should also in the same vein enlighten and orientate its officers towards not seeing it as an opportunity to resort to indiscriminate arrest of the youths, in particular, as they are wont to do.

In a similar vein, it is pragmatic to urge Nigerians, particularly the youths, to see the slang, “We Nor Go Gree” as a motivational quote, contrary to the expectation of the police, by reflecting regularly on it as it can help them cultivate a more positive attitude and a new perspective on challenges in 2024, particularly as the month of January is ongoing. The foregoing advice, no doubt, cannot in any way be pooh-poohed or dismissed with mere wave of the hand as it is unarguably inspiring enough to help in motivating them to pursue their dreams, face challenges and develop new perspectives in 2024.