VeryDarkMan Pledges to Fund New Video for Eedris Abdulkareem’s Banned Protest Song

Social media activist VeryDarkMan has offered to sponsor a new music video for Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest track Tell Your Papa, which was recently banned by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

The controversial track, which criticises the government and calls out President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, was prohibited from being aired on radio and television. The NBC described the song as “inappropriate” and “offensive.”

Despite its initial lack of visibility, the ban has sparked widespread attention and conversation around the song.

In a video shared on his social media page, VeryDarkMan condemned the federal government’s action, arguing that the lyrics simply reflect Nigeria’s harsh economic realities and rising insecurity.

“I saw that NBC sent a message to Eedris Abdulkareem saying his song Tell Your Papa has been banned,” he said. “In that song, he asked Seyi Tinubu to tell his father that there’s hardship in the country and people are dying. Is that not the truth?”

He added that the censorship attempt is an example of the government trying to silence dissent through control of traditional media platforms. “How many people even listen to radio or watch TV these days? Social media is where the people are.”

VeryDarkMan then announced plans to collaborate with Abdulkareem on a follow-up video titled Tell Your Papa 2. “We will sponsor it. I’ll be in the video myself. Since we can’t get the President, we’ll find a Tinubu lookalike. And this time, we’ll address even more issues.”

He said the decision to ban the song only proves the government is paying attention to the public’s frustrations but is unwilling to act on them. “When we speak out, they want to suppress our voices. But we’ll take the message to social media where they can’t control it.”

Tell Your Papa adds to Abdulkareem’s long-running legacy of using music as a tool for political commentary.