Portable added that the government is oppressing Nigerian celebrities, adding that some of them are still being persecuted over their past remarks.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Rapper, singer and songwriter, Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, popularly known as Portable, has justified why Nigerian celebrities do not speak up on worsening insecurity in the country, saying they are afraid the authorities might arrest them if they do.
The controversial artist made this known in a video broadcast while reacting to British-Nigerian rapper Skepta’s appeal to Nigerian celebrities to speak up against the worsening economy and escalating insecurity in the country.
Skepta had said, “Nigerians need help. We need people to speak up for us as well. We need to protect Nigerians. There is so much injustice in Nigeria.”
Reacting to his comment, Portable argued that it is safer for Nigerians in the diaspora to condemn the insecurity because the Nigerian government “can’t arrest” them from abroad.
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The ‘Zazu’ crooner added that the government is oppressing celebrities in the country, adding that some of them are still being persecuted over their past remarks.
He said, “Skepta, God bless you for remembering and speaking for Nigeria. However, you saying we, Nigerian celebrities, should speak up and demand justice, do you want the Nigerian government to pick us? They will arrest us if we speak up.
“This government is oppressing us. Some of us are still being persecuted over our past remarks. We need help. We need support, not just prayers. Nigerians in the diaspora should speak up because the Nigerian government can’t arrest them from abroad. Those of us in Nigeria, if we speak, we will be in big trouble. They might even seize our passports if we, celebrities, say what we are not supposed to say.
“So, I’m only concerned about how I can make money and better my own life. It is not like celebrities don’t care about Nigeria, but if we speak, they will persecute us. A lot of us are even tired of what is happening in Nigeria. But we can’t speak up. If we were abroad, it would be safer to speak up.”
