Controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, popularly known as Portable, has said he can’t condemn the insecurity in the country, revealing that he’s afraid the authorities might arrest him if he becomes vocal about the situation.

The Zazu crooner disclosed this while reacting to British-Nigerian rapper Skepta’s appeal to Nigerian celebrities to speak up against the worsening economic hardship and escalating insecurity in the country.

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.

Speaking in a video broadcast, 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.”