“You Can’t Silence the Truth”: Eedris Abdulkareem Slams FG Over Ban of His Anti-Tinubu Song ‘Tell Your Papa’
Veteran Nigerian rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem, has fired back at the Federal Government following the ban of his new protest track, Tell Your Papa, which openly criticizes President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to reports by TalkTalk Nigeria, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Thursday branded the track “offensive” and issued a directive prohibiting broadcast stations from airing it. This action has sparked a fresh wave of controversy around freedom of expression and the government's tolerance for dissent.
🔥 Abdulkareem Speaks: “They Want to Silence the Truth”
In a strongly worded response posted to Instagram, Eedris likened the ban to the 2004 censorship of his iconic protest anthem Jaga Jaga, which also challenged the status quo.
“It is obvious that in Nigeria, truth and constructive criticism is always deemed a big crime by the government,” he wrote.
He further accused the current administration of being “insensitive, vindictive and grossly maleficent,” and claimed the ban was a calculated attempt to silence voices that speak uncomfortable truths.
🗣️ Opinion: Protest Music Will Always Be a Mirror of the Times
Love him or hate him, Eedris Abdulkareem has always used music as a megaphone for the people. From the days of Jaga Jaga to Tell Your Papa, he’s been unafraid to hold a mirror to power—and that, in any democracy, is not just necessary but essential.
Trying to suppress protest music doesn’t stop the message—it amplifies it. History has shown that banning a song often gives it more life, more listens, and more meaning.
As Nigerians continue to grapple with rising economic challenges, insecurity, and political discontent, artists like Eedris play a vital role in reflecting public sentiment—raw, unfiltered, and unapologetic.
In a nation where the microphone can sometimes be more powerful than the ballot, censorship might just be the wrong note to hit.
🎶 Let the people sing. Let the truth be told.
