According to Dailypost, veteran Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem has expressed his displeasure over the Federal Government’s decision to ban his newly released track, Tell Your Papa. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) announced the ban on Thursday, citing the song’s “offensive” nature.
In response, Abdulkareem took to Instagram to criticize the move, describing it as an attempt to stifle free speech and suppress criticism. He compared this incident to the 2004 censorship of his famous protest song Jaga Jaga, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of being “vindictive and insensitive.”
The controversial song, released earlier in April, directly addresses President Tinubu’s governance, calling on his son, Seyi Tinubu, to inform his father about the hardships faced by Nigerians. Abdulkareem’s lyrics highlight issues such as economic struggles and unfulfilled promises, using phrases like “too much empty promises” and “balablu grammar” to underscore his points.
The NBC memo, signed by Susan Obi, Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, classified the song as “Not To Be Broadcast” (NTBB) under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. This section prohibits content deemed offensive or inappropriate for public broadcast. The commission advised media outlets to refrain from airing the track to uphold responsible broadcasting standards.
Sharing a copy of the NBC directive online, Abdulkareem wrote: “It is obvious that in Nigeria, truth and constructive criticism is always deemed a big crime by the government.” He further criticized the administration for attempting to shield itself from scrutiny instead of addressing pressing national issues.
