Eedris Abdulkareem Clarifies ‘Tell Your Papa’ Song, Says It’s a Response, Not an Attack on Seyi Tinubu

Veteran Nigerian rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem, has clarified that his recently released track, Tell Your Papa, was not an attack on Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, but a response to a public statement made by him.

Speaking on Rubbin’ Minds, a Channels Television programme aired on Sunday, Abdulkareem explained that the song was inspired by Seyi Tinubu’s comment earlier in March in Yola, where he described his father as Nigeria’s best-ever president.

According to Abdulkareem, the song is a message directed at the president’s son to urge his father to address the pressing issues facing Nigerians – from economic hardship to insecurity and lack of basic infrastructure.

“Nigerian youths are just asking for basics: electricity, security, enabling economic environment, job creation – not palliatives,” he said. “So why should I attack Seyi Tinubu personally? If he hadn’t made that comment, I wouldn’t have made the song. It’s a direct response to his statement.”

The track has since sparked controversy after the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) banned it from airing on radio and television, citing it as inappropriate content. The decision has drawn widespread backlash, including criticism from Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, who described the move as censorship and a threat to freedom of expression.

Abdulkareem also reflected on the ongoing state of the nation, lamenting that over two decades after he released his politically charged song Nigeria Jaga Jaga, the conditions that inspired it remain largely unchanged.

“The fact that Nigeria Jaga Jaga is still relevant after 24 years says a lot about where we are as a country,” he said.

The rapper, known for his outspoken commentary on national issues, continues to use his music as a platform for activism, calling on leaders to listen to the voices of young Nigerians.