Veteran Rapper Eedris Abdulkareem Slams FG Over Ban of ‘Tell Your Papa’
Legendary Nigerian rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem, has strongly condemned the Federal Government’s decision to ban his newly released song Tell Your Papa, labeling the move a deliberate attempt to silence truth and suppress criticism.
Reacting via an Instagram post on Thursday evening, Abdulkareem criticized the ban issued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), which tagged the track as “offensive.” Sharing a copy of the NBC memo, the outspoken artist wrote:
“It is obvious that in Nigeria, truth and constructive criticism is always deemed a big crime by the government.”
He went further to state:
“President Bola Tinubu-led government is now going on record as one of the most insensitive, vindictive, and grossly maleficent administrations that has ever presided over the affairs of Nigeria.”
Abdulkareem, who has a history of using music as a tool for social commentary, compared the recent censorship to the ban of his 2004 protest anthem Jaga Jaga—a song that boldly criticized corruption and poor leadership in Nigeria. Just like then, he accuses the current administration of being intolerant to dissenting voices.
“They are instructing broadcast houses to shield the government by hiding the candle under the table,” he said. “Anyone wonder why Nigeria has not made impactful strides all these years? The conscience is an open wound, only the truth can heal it.”
A Brief Look at Eedris Abdulkareem:
Eedris Abdulkareem rose to fame in the early 2000s as a member of the hip-hop group The Remedies before launching a solo career. Known for his fearless political commentary, he made headlines in 2004 with Jaga Jaga, a song that became a cultural touchstone for Nigerian youth but was banned by then-President Olusegun Obasanjo. Over the years, Abdulkareem has remained one of the few Nigerian artists unafraid to challenge the status quo through music.