That ban of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song, ‘Tell Your Papa’, by NBC

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) scored a bad own goal by autocratically banning the recently released song “Tell Your Papa” by the irrepressible rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem, from being broadcast on radio and television stations across the country. This is most unfortunate because banning any creative effort almost always makes the work more popular. The NBC has shot itself in the foot.

The NBC is acting unconstitutionally by trying to stop Eedris Abdulkareem from exercising his constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression. President Tinubu’s son, Seyi, had the liberty to publicly declare that his father is “the greatest president Nigeria has ever had.” In the same spirit, Eedris Abdulkareem should be allowed to counter that narrative through his song, “Tell Your Papa.”

Nigeria should not be turned into George Orwell’s Animal Farm where all animals are equal, except that some are more equal than others.

Democracy begins to die the moment the right to dissent is denied. What Eedris Abdulkareem offered in his song can hardly be interpreted as anything other than speaking truth to power. He asked the president’s son to tell his father that Nigerians are dying of hunger. Are Nigerians not hungry? Are people not dying? Eedris Abdulkareem should be praised, not punished, for being a voice of the people.

The NBC is unfortunately playing the role of an agent of repression against expression. History teaches us that when Ayatollah Khomeini placed a fatwa on Salman Rushdie in 1989 for writing The Satanic Verses, it only made the book a global bestseller. The NBC’s ill-conceived decision to ban “Tell Your Papa” will similarly catapult the song into popularity, thanks to the boundless reach of digital platforms and social media.

In fact, the NBC’s directive of April 9, 2025, banning the song may prove to be a blessing in disguise. Support for Abdulkareem is bound to grow exponentially across the world via the internet.

The NBC is sadly acting as the government’s lapdog in its mission to suppress dissent. Many Nigerians already feel that the legislature and judiciary have been weakened by the overreach of the executive. Now, with the media being dragged into this clampdown, the fear of totalitarianism becomes more real.

Any reasonable observer is left to ask: What is Nigeria turning into? A nation where people can no longer freely express themselves? Nigeria boasts a proud history of politically conscious musicians, including the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, whose voice could not be silenced even by the harshest military regimes. Eedris Abdulkareem deserves encouragement, not censorship, for continuing in this brave tradition.

Ironically, by banning the song “Tell Your Papa,” the NBC has inadvertently done a PR job for it. This writer had not even heard of the song until the NBC’s heavy-handed intervention brought it to national attention. The Almighty has a way of elevating people when they least expect it. After the thunderclap of “Nigeria Jaga-Jaga” over 20 years ago, which drew the ire of former President Obasanjo, Eedris Abdulkareem seemed to fade into the background. Now, with this latest release and the NBC’s unsolicited promotion—he’s bound to “blow” once again.

Congratulations to Eedris Abdulkareem for staying true to his voice and for reminding us all that music remains one of the most powerful tools for truth, conscience, and change. The people are listening.

Nwosu PhD writes from Awka.