By Felicia Odom 1.6.2026
Loquacious street singer Habeeb Okikiola Badmus a.k.a Portable, has joined the list of Nigerian celebrities who are mum on the current precarious situation facing Nigerians. British Nigerian rapper Joseph Olaitan Adenuga a.k.a Skepta had challenged Nigerian celebrities to speak out against the insecurity and economic hardships facing Nigerians.
But Portable said he could not do it because he is afraid of being picked up by the government’s security agents. He urged the likes of Skepta to do the talking instead.
“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,” Portable said in a video circulating online.
“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 abroad, it would be safer to speak up.”