EEDRIS ABDULKAREEM CLARIFIES NEW SONG NOT AN ATTACK ON SEYI TINUBU, FACES NBC BAN. (PHOTO).

 Eedris Abdulkareem Clarifies New Song Not an Attack on Seyi Tinubu, Faces NBC Ban

Nigerian singer and rapper Eedris Abdulkareem has clarified that his new song, Tell Your Papa, is not an attack on Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, but a response to Seyi’s claim that his father is Nigeria’s greatest president. Seyi made the statement in March 2025 during an event in Yola, Adamawa State.

Speaking on Sunday, Abdulkareem emphasized that the song urges Seyi to encourage his father to address Nigeria’s pressing issues, including electricity, security, and job creation. “Nigerian youths are asking for basics, not palliatives,” he said, adding, “I was inspired by Seyi’s video. If he had stayed silent, I wouldn’t have recorded the song.”

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) swiftly banned "Tell Your Papa" from radio and television, labeling it inappropriate. The decision has drawn criticism, with Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka condemning it as a return to censorship and a threat to free speech.

Abdulkareem also reflected on his 2001 hit Nigeria Jagajaga, noting its continued relevance due to Nigeria’s lack of progress. He criticized Seyi’s defense of his father, stating, “Tinubu may be the best father to Seyi, but not to Nigerians. Youths lack jobs and food, and can’t travel safely.” He challenged Seyi to experience the struggles of ordinary citizens by traveling without security.

The rapper advised Seyi to avoid public defenses of his father’s administration, suggesting he lacks the charisma to address Nigeria’s economic realities effectively.