Nigeria Bans Airing of Song Criticising President
The Nigerian government, through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), banned radio and TV stations from airing veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest song “Tell Your Papa” on April 9, 2025, citing its “objectionable” critique of President Bola Tinubu. The track, which calls out Tinubu’s son Seyi to highlight Nigeria’s economic hardship and insecurity, was deemed a violation of broadcast standards. As the ban fuels debates over free speech and Tinubu’s leadership, the song’s viral spread on social media underscores public frustration amid soaring fuel prices and violence as of April 11, 2025.
NBC’s Crackdown: A Song Silenced
In a memo dated April 9, signed by Susan Obi, NBC’s Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, the commission labeled “Tell Your Papa” as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB) under Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. The directive, sent to all stations, called the song’s lyrics—slamming Tinubu for “empty promises” and urging Seyi to “tell your papa people dey die”—inappropriate and offensive to public decency. “Stations must refrain from airing this to uphold responsible broadcasting,” Obi wrote. The move echoes past bans, like Abdulkareem’s 2004 hit “Nigeria Jaga Jaga,” also silenced for its anti-government bite.
Lyrics That Hit Hard: Abdulkareem’s Defiance
Released April 6, “Tell Your Papa” targets Seyi Tinubu’s claim in Adamawa that his father is Nigeria’s “greatest president.” Abdulkareem raps, “Seyi, tell your papa country hard… ebi n pa mekunu [hunger kills the poor],” spotlighting 40% inflation, N950/litre fuel, and 3,800 abductions in 2025, per ACLED data. “Seyi, you dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem,” he adds, contrasting elite privilege with public pain. The song, shared widely on X, exploded online, gaining traction despite the ban as Nigerians vent over economic woes and Trump’s 14% tariffs.
Public Backlash: Free Speech Under Fire
The ban ignited a firestorm. By April 11, #TellYourPapa topped 120,000 X posts, with users like @LagosVibes calling it “truth the government fears.” Rights group SERAP issued a 48-hour ultimatum on April 10, threatening to sue NBC for stifling dissent, arguing the ban violates free expression. Abdulkareem, no stranger to censorship, posted on Instagram: “Truth is a crime in Nigeria… Tinubu’s government can’t hide the hardship.” Yet, some defend the NBC, with @APCUnity tweeting, “Irresponsible lyrics incite chaos.” The clash mirrors Nigeria’s tense mood as protests flare.
Tinubu’s Tough Spot: Criticism Mounts
The ban lands as Tinubu grapples with crises: an eighth grid collapse this year, Boko Haram’s Borno surge, and a naira battered by forex losses. Peter Obi’s April 9 collapse warning and PDP governors’ Rivers fight already pressure the APC. Abdulkareem’s song amplifies public anger, with lyrics like “this one don pass jaga jaga” evoking his 2004 anthem banned by Obasanjo. Analyst Dr. Amina Jega told a local outlet, “Silencing artists won’t erase the reality—people are suffering.” Tinubu’s team, via aide Bayo Onanuga, dismissed the song as “opposition propaganda,” but its online surge suggests deeper unrest.
A Song That Won’t Fade: What’s Next?
Despite the airwave ban, “Tell Your Papa” thrives on X, WhatsApp, and nightclubs, much like “Jaga Jaga” did. SERAP’s legal threat looms, while Abdulkareem vows more music, telling fans, “They can’t ban the truth.” The NBC faces a dilemma: enforce the ban and risk escalating tensions, or relent under pressure. With Nigeria’s youth—70% unemployed, per NBS—rallying behind the song, it’s a cultural flashpoint in a nation at its limit. Will Tinubu’s government double down, or can it weather the storm?
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