Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem addressed speculation surrounding his latest song, “Tell Your Papa,” during an appearance on Channels TV’s Rubbin’ Minds on April 12, 2025, asserting it was not a personal attack on Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.
The artist explained the track responded to Seyi’s March statement in Yola, Adamawa State, where he hailed his father as Nigeria’s greatest president. Abdulkareem emphasized that the song urges Seyi to encourage his father to address pressing national issues like electricity, security, job creation, and economic stability rather than relying on palliatives.
He noted that Seyi’s comments directly inspired the song, stating he would not have recorded it otherwise. The National Broadcasting Commission recently banned the song from television and radio, deeming it inappropriate, a move that drew sharp criticism. Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka publicly decried the ban on April 12, 2025, warning it signals a return to censorship and threatens free expression.
Abdulkareem also referenced his 2001 hit “Nigeria Jagajaga,” underscoring its continued relevance amid Nigeria’s stagnant progress. He critiqued Seyi’s defense of his father, suggesting that silence would have been more effective, given the nation’s economic struggles. Abdulkareem highlighted the disparity between Seyi’s empowerment and the widespread unemployment and insecurity faced by Nigerian youth, challenging him to experience ordinary citizens’ hardships, such as traveling without security. The controversy continues to fuel discussions on governance and artistic freedom in Nigeria.
