The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has barred media outlets from airing Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s latest track, Tell Your Papa, a politically charged song that takes aim at the current administration.
In the track, Abdulkareem directly addresses Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, urging him to confront his father over the country’s deteriorating condition.
“Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga,” he raps.
He continues: “Seyi, how far? I swear your papa no try. Too much empty promises. On behalf of Nigerians, take our message to him; kidnappers dey kill Nigerians.”
Abdulkareem also challenges Seyi to experience life like everyday Nigerians:
“Seyi, try travel by road without your security make you feel the pains of fellow Nigerians. You dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem.”
In response, the NBC issued a circular warning broadcasters not to air the song, labeling it “inappropriate for broadcast.”
According to the commission, the song violates Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and has been classified as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB). The circular states:
“The National Broadcasting Commission has identified the song ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem, currently trending on social media, as content deemed inappropriate for broadcast due to its objectionable nature… Your station is requested to exercise discretion and refrain from airing this song to maintain responsible broadcasting standards.”
Tell Your Papa is widely seen as a direct response to Seyi Tinubu’s recent remarks in Adamawa State, where he described his father as “the greatest president in Nigeria’s history.”
