The Federal Government has reportedly banned the broadcast of veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s latest protest song Seyi Tell Your Papa from being aired on television and radio stations across Nigeria.
The controversial track, which directly addresses Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calls on him to confront his father over the country’s worsening economic hardship and rising insecurity.
In the song, Abdulkareem sings in Pidgin English:
“Seyi, tell your papa, country hard. Tell your papa, people dey die. Tell your papa, this one don pass jagajaga,”
—referencing his iconic 2004 protest anthem Jaga Jaga, which was also famously banned during the Obasanjo administration.
The new track accuses President Tinubu of failing to fulfill campaign promises and presiding over a government disconnected from the realities of ordinary Nigerians. It highlights soaring inflation, widespread hunger, and insecurity, while challenging Seyi Tinubu to experience life without political privilege.
Though the ban has not been officially confirmed by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), multiple sources within the media industry have hinted that directives were issued to radio and TV stations warning against airing the song.
The ban has sparked widespread backlash on social media, with Nigerians criticizing the move as an attack on freedom of expression and a refusal to engage with the voices of dissent.
Eedris Abdulkareem, known for using music as a tool for political activism, has not responded publicly to the reported ban but has continued to promote the song across digital platforms, where it remains widely accessible.
