LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem has clarified that his recent song “Tell Your Papa” was not intended as a personal attack on Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu.
Instead, Abdulkareem stated that the song was a response to comments made by Seyi Tinubu in March 2025, where he described his father as Nigeria’s “best-ever president” during an event in Yola, Adamawa State.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds programme on Sunday, April 13, 2025, Abdulkareem explained that the song was a call for the president to address pressing issues facing the country, including economic hardship and insecurity.
“Nigerian youths are just asking for basics: electricity, security, enabling economic environment, job creation, and not palliatives,” Abdulkareem said.
The rapper emphasized that his song was a direct response to Seyi Tinubu’s statement.
“So, why should I attack Seyi Tinubu personally? If Seyi Tinubu never talked about it, I wouldn’t have recorded a song like that. I am replying to the video that he made. If he had kept quiet, I wouldn’t have said anything. I am inspired by Seyi Tinubu to record that song,” Abdulkareem explained.
Abdulkareem’s song, however, has sparked controversy, with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) immediately banning it from radio and television for being “inappropriate.”
This action has faced widespread criticism, including from Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, who condemned the ban as an attack on free speech and a step back towards censorship.
The rapper, known for his outspoken views, also reflected on the relevance of his 2001 hit “Nigeria Jagajaga,” stating that despite the passage of 24 years, the song’s themes of national disarray remain pertinent because the country has failed to achieve the necessary progress.
Abdulkareem further criticized Seyi Tinubu for his apparent inability to grasp the struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians.
He said, “I was inspired by Seyi Tinubu to record the song. I saw a video where he was campaigning for his father and he was defending his father, saying ‘My father is the best president, my father is the greatest president, they are coming for my father…’”
He continued, “But for Seyi, I differ because it looks more perfect when you are silent than when you speak. I would advise Seyi to hand over the microphone to the MC next time. He lacks the charisma and purpose to express himself, telling the truth about the true economic situation in Nigeria under his father’s government.”
In a pointed remark, Abdulkareem added that while Tinubu might be the best father to his son, his leadership has failed to benefit the Nigerian people.
“He (Tinubu) has empowered Seyi as his son, but Nigerian youths don’t have jobs, let alone food to eat. The Nigerian youths can’t travel by road, so I ask Seyi Tinubu to travel by road without his security. Let him feel the pains of ordinary citizens,” Abdulkareem said.
