They Will Arrest Us If We Speak Up – Portable Explains Celebrities Silence On Insecurity Crisis

Controversial Nigerian singer Hebeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has explained the reason behind celebrities' silence amid the economic hardship and insecurity crisis in the country.

The singer made the explanation while responding to British-Nigerian rapper Skepta's clamour for Nigerian celebrities to use their platforms to call on the government to address the situation in the country.

According to Portable, Nigerian celebrities are afraid to speak up due to the fear of being arrested by the government.

He claimed that many of them are subjected to oppression and persecution, adding that lending their voices to the economic hardship can bring problems upon them such as visa denial, among other restrictions.

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 diaspora should speak up because 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 in abroad, it would be safer to speak up."