Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP) has given federal government a 48-hour ultimatum to reverse the ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s song ‘Tell Your Papa’ or face litigation.
The song, released on Monday, criticises the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government.
The rapper condemned the “empty promises” and dismissed them as “balablu grammar.” He also asked Seyi Tinubu to relay Nigerians’ hardships to his father.
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) announced the ban in a memo dated April 9, citing that the song violates Section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.
The commission said it considered the song’s content to be inappropriate and objectionable, citing its violation of public decency standards on broadcast platforms.
Reacting in a statement posted on X, SERAP warned that if the federal government failed to reverse the ban, it would take the matter to court.
The statement reads, “The Tinubu administration must immediately reverse the unlawful ban by the National Broadcasting Commission stopping Nigerian radio and TV stations from airing Eedris Abdulkareem’s new single.”
“We’ll see in court if the ban is not reversed within 48 hours.”
The rapper and songwriter known for his incisive social commentary and unwavering critique of political and economic issues in Nigeria, also reacted to his song’s ban, noting that it isn’t the first time such was done.
Eedris said his hit song ‘Jaga Jaga,’ which was also banned during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration in 2004.
