Simisola Ogunleye, Nigeria’s R&B singer better known as Simi, says that many people whom she used to respect have changed after attaining a status of influence.
The 31-year-old vocalist said this in a tweet on Wednesday — barely two days after she had slugged it out with Festus Keyamo, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), over his stance on the social media regulation bill.
“Lot of people I used to respect have changed a lot. Some found power and lost the plot. Some just got stupider,” she wrote, as fans took to the comment box to bare their thoughts with a user urging her to “calm down.”
Lot of people I used to respect have changed a lot. Some found power and lost the plot. Some just got stupider.
Advertisement— Simi (@SympLySimi) December 4, 2019
While Simi never established a connection as to who her rant is addressed to, the comment comes not long after she had challenged Keyamo for opining that it’s unacceptable for Nigerians to make “insensitive” posts on public officials.
“In a democracy sir, it should NOT be the law for people to be ‘sensitive’ when they talk about the people they voted for. How many false posts about the government actually circulate that warrants a bill like this? ” the ‘Joromi’ songstress had written.
“We have way more pressing issues in Nigeria and even YOU know it! There has to be at least one person in power that is on the side of the people. Gaddemit!”
In a democracy sir, it should NOT be the law for people to be 'sensitive' when they talk about the people they voted for. How many false posts about the government actually circulate that warrants a bill like this? We have way more pressing issues in Nigeria and even YOU know it! https://t.co/r4FiXNAoL4
— Simi (@SympLySimi) December 2, 2019
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Her response was in reaction to Keyamo’s tweet that read: “The real agitation should be for Parliament, in line with S.36(12) of the 1999 Constitution, to clearly define the TYPES of false & insensitive posts that would attract penal consequences, so that govt doesn’t abuse it. But to leave everyone to just post ANYTHING is unacceptable.”
Those so-called overnight Social Media ‘activists’ who oppose the Social Media Bill should first stop blocking those who irritate them with insults, unblock all those they have blocked and apologise to them. You can’t be intolerant and ask others to be. Practice what you preach.
— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) December 2, 2019
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The SAN had, in another tweet, challenged Nigerians parading themselves as social media activists to unblock those they’ve blocked and apologize to them so as to portray the tolerance they demand from public officials.
“Those so-called overnight Social Media ‘activists’ who oppose the Social Media Bill should first stop blocking those who irritate them with insults, unblock all those they have blocked and apologise to them. You can’t be intolerant and ask others to be. Practice what you preach,” he added.
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