By Gabriel Atumeyi
Nigerian singers, Stanley Omah Didia, alias Omah Lay and Temilade Openyi, alias Tems, are currently trending on Nigerian social media platforms following their arrest and remand in a Uganda prison.
Both singers were arrested by the Uganda Police Force for flouting COVID-19 guidelines after their performances at The Big Brunch, which held at Speke Resort, Wavamunno Road, Kampala, Uganda.
African Giant, Burna Boy, took to his Twitter platform to urge the Ugandan government to release the singers. He wrote, “Uganda…Pls we need our people home and safe #freetems#freeomahlay”.
Ace rap artiste, Olamide, had also lent his voice to the release of the singers.
“@PoliceUg@StateHouseUg Free Omah lay and Tems,” the singer posted on his Twitter page.
Jaywon was not left out as the artiste took posted a picture of both artistes in court on Instagram and used the caption section to appeal to the Ugandan government to release his colleagues.
He wrote, “Uganda are positioning themselves in the wrong view, with this nonsense act of theirs.. or you telling us their immigration didn’t ask Omah Lay and Tems what they came to do in their country.
#Freeomahlay#FreeTems.”
Rave-of-the-moment artiste, Fireboy DML, went on his Twitter platform to ask the Ugandan police why his peers were being mistreated.
“What is going on? @PoliceUg Why are Omah Lay and Tems being mistreated?!
#FreeOmahLay#FreeTems everyone please let’s create more awareness on this, it’s no longer funny!” the singer cried.
Popular disc jockey, DJ Spinall, joined the clamour for the release of his colleagues on his Twitter page where he appealed to the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri, to intervene in the matter.
“@abikedabiri, Two of our music stars @Omah_Lay & @temsbaby where arrested in Uganda. Please do something. Thank you.
#FreeOmahLay#FreeTems@MFANIGERIA,” he posted.
The funnyman, Mr Macaroni, apparently does not see anything funny about the current predicament of Omah Lay and Tems as he urged all Nigerians to raise their voices against their detention which, in his view, is a setup.
He wrote on Twitter, “This is a set-up and we all must join voices together!! Did Omah Lay and Tems invite themselves to Uganda?? How do you arrest Nigerian artistes in your country over a show that they didn’t organize?? Why didn’t they just postpone or cancel the show if shows weren’t allowed?”