The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has officially prohibited the airing of veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s latest protest song, Eedris Abdulkareem’s ‘Tell Your Papa’, on all radio and television stations in Nigeria.
In a memo released on April 9, the NBC stated that the song, which criticizes President Bola Tinubu, falls under the category of “Not To Be Broadcast” (NTBB) due to its “objectionable nature.” The memo, signed by Broadcast Monitoring Coordinator Susan Obi, referred to section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code, which prohibits broadcasting content deemed inappropriate, offensive, or in violation of public decency.
The directive titled “Restriction on Broadcasting ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem” explained that the song is currently trending on social media and has been identified as unsuitable for broadcast.
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The memo urged all radio and TV stations to follow the directive strictly, emphasizing the importance of responsible broadcasting standards.
Eedris Abdulkareem’s ‘Tell Your Papa’ was released just earlier this week and has sparked widespread debate online. The song criticizes the socio-economic conditions in Nigeria and directly addresses Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, encouraging him to speak to his father about the hardships faced by everyday Nigerians.
In the lyrics, Abdulkareem raps, “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga,” highlighting issues such as insecurity and poverty.
Despite the ban on traditional media, Eedris Abdulkareem’s ‘Tell Your Papa’ is still gaining traction on social media, with many Nigerians appreciating its bold reflection of the country’s current challenges.
Eedris Abdulkareem has responded to the government’s decision to ban his song, claiming that in Nigeria, truth and constructive criticism are often treated as crimes. In a post on Facebook, he stated, “It’s obvious that in Nigeria, Truth and constructive criticism is always deemed as a big crime by the government.” He further criticized the Tinubu administration, claiming it is one of the most insensitive and oppressive in Nigerian history.
Abdulkareem also drew parallels between this situation and the ban of his previous song “Jaga Jaga” during the Obasanjo administration over 21 years ago, expressing his determination to continue speaking out against injustices.
As the debate continues, many Nigerians are tuning in online to support Eedris Abdulkareem’s ‘Tell Your Papa’, demonstrating the power of music in addressing pressing social issues.
