Veteran Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem is no stranger to controversy and once again, he’s right in the eye of the storm.
His latest protest track, Tell Your Papa, which boldly takes aim at President Bola Tinubu’s administration, has not only ruffled feathers at the top but also stirred up a powerful wave of public reaction. Though banned from radio and television by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on April 10, the song has found a new life online, skyrocketing in popularity across streaming platforms.
At the time of writing, Tell Your Papa has amassed more than 89,000 views and 2,800 likes on YouTube, a sharp rise from the 22,000 views and 1,200 likes it initially drew. On Spotify, the song has passed 30,000 streams.
For Eedris, this isn’t the first time his music has faced the axe. Back in 2004, his protest anthem Jaga Jaga, which criticized corruption and poor leadership under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was similarly banned. Yet it went on to become one of Nigeria’s most iconic protest songs.
Comparing the current situation to that time, Eedris took to Instagram to express his frustration:
“It’s obvious that in Nigeria, truth and constructive criticism is always deemed a big crime by the government.”
And once again, Nigerians are echoing his sentiment, this time louder and across more platforms than ever before.
The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) also condemned the ban, warning that such censorship only increases public curiosity and fuels the song’s reach.
Adding weight to the protest was Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, who didn’t mince words in his reaction. In a statement released from New York University, Abu Dhabi, Soyinka sarcastically criticized the government’s “half-measures”:
“It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed…”
The professor, with his trademark dry wit, pointed out the futility of such censorship, noting that the ban has effectively turned into free PR for Abdulkareem:
“Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him.”
While he admitted he hadn’t listened to the track, Soyinka emphasized that the real issue isn’t just about a song—it’s about freedom of expression, and what happens when governments begin to shut that down.
“A government intolerant of criticism is already on a slippery slope to the abyss.”
Unsurprisingly, social media lit up following the ban. Comments on YouTube and Instagram poured in, expressing support for Eedris and criticizing the government’s stance.
One YouTube user wrote:
“Naija government, this is 2025, for goodness’ sake. There is no single lie in the song.”
Another chimed in:
“They were too quick to ban it because the message was well passed. We mount on streaming platforms and social media.”
The consensus online? The ban is backfiring—and badly.
In an interview on Rubbin’ Minds on Channels Television, Eedris revealed that Tell Your Papa was actually inspired by a comment made by Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son. Seyi had referred to his father as “Nigeria’s best-ever president,” a statement Eedris said pushed him to respond through music.
“If Seyi Tinubu never talked about it, I wouldn’t have recorded a song like that… I am inspired by Seyi Tinubu to record that song.”
Eedris went on to criticize Seyi’s public remarks, suggesting the president’s son should avoid the mic altogether:
“Seyi looks perfect when he is silent. I will advise him to hand the mic to the MC next time.”
He didn’t stop there. In a pointed jab, he said:
“Tinubu is the best father to Seyi Tinubu, but he is the worst President to Nigerians. He has empowered his son, but he has failed to empower Nigerians with jobs and food.”
By Ezinne Okorie.
