I responded to Seyi Tinubu with my song; I did not attack him – Eedris Abdulkareem
Nigerian singer and rapper Eedris Abdulkareem clarifies that his new song did not target Seyi Tinubu, emphasising that he merely responded to a comment made by the entrepreneur about his father, President Bola Tinubu, being Nigeria’s best-ever president.
In March 2025, the younger Tinubu delivered the statement in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State.
The rapper clarified that his latest track, ‘Tell Your Papa’, is not intended as a criticism of Seyi, but rather as a plea for the president’s son to urge his father to tackle Nigeria’s economic and security issues.
“Nigerian youths are simply requesting the essentials—electricity, security, a supportive economic environment, job creation, and not temporary solutions,” Abdulkareem stated during an appearance on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds program on Sunday.
“What would be the reason for me to personally target Seyi Tinubu?” If Seyi Tinubu hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have created a song like that. Consequently, I am replying to his video. If he had remained silent, I wouldn’t have spoken up. Seyi Tinubu motivated me to create that song.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) swiftly labelled Abdulkareem’s latest song as unsuitable and prohibited its airing on radio and television.
Many Nigerians have criticised the ban, including Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, who characterised the situation as a resurgence of censorship and a danger to the right to free speech. In the television programme, Abdulkareem expressed his disappointment that 24 years after the release of his earlier song, ‘Nigeria jagajaga’, the issues it highlighted remain relevant due to the lack of significant progress in Nigeria.
He mentioned, “Seyi Tinubu motivated me to create the song.” I watched a video in which he was campaigning for his father, passionately defending him by stating, ‘My father is the best president; my father is the greatest president.’ They are approaching my father…
“He (Seyi) repeated it like six times.” However, I have a different perspective on Seyi; it seems more refined when you remain silent than when you express it verbally. I recommend that Seyi pass the microphone to the MC next time. He does not possess the charm and clarity needed to articulate his thoughts, and he finds it challenging to communicate the actual economic conditions in Nigeria during his father’s administration.
The rapper stated that Tinubu may excel as a father to his son, but not to the people of Nigeria. “He (Tinubu) has empowered Seyi as his son, yet Nigerian youths are struggling to find jobs, let alone have food to eat.” Nigerian youths are unable to travel by road, so I challenge Seyi Tinubu to make the journey by road without his security detail. “Allow him to experience the struggles of everyday people,” he stated.