Eedris’s “Tell Your Papa” defies Tinubu ban, gathers support and popularity for musician on social media
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
As Wole Soyinka and other commentators predicted, the ban induced by President Bola Tinubu on Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest song “Tell Your Papa” has shot it to remarkable heights on YouTube, Spotify, and among Nigerians on social media.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on April 10 decreed the song should not be aired on radio and television claiming it violates the broadcasting code, but Nigerians accused Tinubu of being behind than ban because the song is a shot at him through his son, Seyi, who boasted that his father is the country’s best ever President.
YouTube currently has Tell Your Papa on 22,754 views with 1,200 likes and the video numbers have hit 82,138 views and 2,600 likes.
On Spotify, the song more than 30,116 streams, according to The PUNCH.
After the ban, Eedris further knocked Tinubu on Instagram for suppressing dissent and constructive criticism.
He likened the ban to the censorship of his hit Jaga Jaga by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2004 and accused Tinubu of being “insensitive and vindictive”.
Eedris added: “It’s obvious that in Nigeria, truth and constructive criticism is always deemed a big crime by the government.”
The ban was faulted by the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), which predicted it would be counterproductive and make people want to stream the song the more.
Soyinka weighed in by condemning the NBC and describing the prohibition as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.
He issued a statement from New York University, Abu Dhabi on Sunday which criticised the decision and its wider implications, saying it echoes previous attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.
He asked the NBC to reverse a “petulant irrationality,” warning that “any government that only tolerates praise-singers has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”
In his view, the issue transcends content and concerns a fundamental democratic principle.
“The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” Soyinka said.
The ban also elicited reactions from other Nigerians across social media platforms.
Sheggzyunited (YouTube)
“Naija government, this is 2025, for goodness sake. There is no single lie in the song.”
Anthony
“They were too quick to ban it because the message was well passed. We mount on streaming platforms and social media.”
directorjoelmatt (Instagram)
“Our government don’t like the truth.”
The lyrics that irked Tinubu:
“Seyi, tell your papa country hard. Tell your papa people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga.
“Seyi, how far? I swear your papa no try. Too much empty promises. On behalf of Nigerians, take our message to him; kidnappers dey kill Nigerians.
“Seyi, try travel by road without your security make you feel the pains of fellow Nigerians. You dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem.”
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