Veteran Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem has clarified that his controversial new song is not an attack on President Bola Tinubu, but a direct response to comments made by the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu. The artist also strongly criticised the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for banning the song, calling the move “pure hypocrisy.”
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds, Abdulkareem said he was inspired to record the track after watching a video of Seyi Tinubu praising his father as the best president Nigeria has ever had.
“I was inspired by Seyi Tinubu to record the song,” he explained. “If he had kept quiet, I wouldn’t have said anything. He repeated over and over that his father is the greatest president, but the reality in Nigeria contradicts that.”
The rapper slammed Seyi for being out of touch with the struggles of ordinary Nigerians. “He has been empowered as the president’s son, but Nigerian youths can’t even get jobs or travel safely by road,” he said. “Let Seyi Tinubu travel by road without his security. Let him feel what everyday Nigerians go through.”
Abdulkareem also rebuked the NBC for banning the song, which he insists reflects the lived realities of many Nigerians. “Why ban a song that simply expresses the truth Nigerians are already living?” he questioned. “Instead of fixing the country, they’re banning songs. That’s the real shame.”
Drawing on his legacy as a musical activist, he recalled how his 2004 protest song Nigeria Jaga Jaga faced backlash during the Obasanjo era. “It’s been 24 years since I released Nigeria Jaga Jaga, and nothing has changed — if anything, things are worse,” he lamented.
Abdulkareem reiterated his commitment to using music as a tool for activism. “This is my duty. I will keep singing truth to power until Nigeria becomes a better place. And when that day comes, I’ll gladly release a new song celebrating a nation that finally works.”
His comments have reignited public discourse around freedom of expression, youth disillusionment, and the role of artists in Nigeria’s sociopolitical landscape.
