Lagos, Nigeria — National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) don ban Nigerian radio and TV stations from playing “Tell Your Papa,” new song by veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem. Dis decision come as dem classify di song as Not To Be Broadcast (NTBB) for inappropriate nature on April 9, 2025. Di Coordinating Director of Broadcast Monitoring, Susan Obi, tok am for letter wey dem send to media houses, explaining say di song no fit meet broadcasting standards.
Di NBC memo wey dey titled “Restriction on Broadcasting ‘Tell Your Papa’ by Eedris Abdulkareem,” run like dis: “Di National Broadcasting Commission don identify di song ‘Tell Your Papa’ as content wey inappropriate for broadcast. E be say e fit disturb public decency, as e dey violate Section 3.1.8 of di Nigeria Broadcasting Code.” Di letter also urge di channels to follow di directive to ensure responsible broadcasting.
“Tell Your Papa” dey gather attention on social media after e drop latest week. Di song dey challenge Seyi Tinubu, wey be di son of President Bola Tinubu, make him talk to him papa about di serious socio-economic wahala wey dey affect Nigerians. In di track, Abdulkareem deliver direct message wey paint di picture of suffering citizens.
For di hard-hitting lyrics, Abdulkareem sing, “Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa dis one don pass jagajaga.” Dis lines get serious implication as e draw attention to di reality wey many Nigerians dey face. Di rapper also ask Seyi make him travel by road without security to feel di pains wey normal people dey experience.
Dis song follow Seyi Tinubu recent comments in Adamawa State, wey him call him papa “di greatest president in Nigeria’s history.” Di contrast wey dey between di son yarning and di lyrics wey Abdulkareem dey spew don spark many discuss online.
Not long after di ban announcement, Abdulkareem react. For him Facebook page, he write say di truth and constructive criticism dey suffer for hands of di government. He tok say: “Na only for Nigeria, truth and constructive criticism na crime. Di present government dey show say dem dey insensitivity and dem no wan hear di voice of di people.”
Despite di ban, di song dey trend heavily on social media, with many Nigerians dey hail Abdulkareem for im gallantry. Dis show say even when government try suppress noise, di voice wey dey come from di people still get power.
