Nigeria Jaga Jaga crooner, Edris Abdulkareem has called out the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that it has failed on all fronts. The singer made this statement on Thursday via a post on his Facebook account where he referred to President Tinubu’s government as “vindictive, insensitive and destructive.” This statement was a reaction to the ban of his song, “Tell Your Papa,” by the National Broadcasting Commission via a statement released by the commission.
In his post, Eedris said: “It’s obvious that in Nigeria, truth and constructive criticism is always deemed as a big crime by the government. This present government led by President Bola Tinubu is now going on record as one of the most insensitive, vindictive and grossly maleficent administrations ever to preside over the affairs of Nigeria.”
Complaining about the abnormally cost-of-living and the unbearable economy under President Tinubu, Eedris observed that President Tinubu had barely lasted two years in office, “and the results are just frighteningly abysmal from all fronts.” He also noted that the pain of the economy is a fact that every Nigerian can attest to, irrespective of the position, tribe or religion, “except for the few happy slaves groveling for crumps from their paymaster’s table!”
Abdulkareem took his criticisms of the President Tinubu’s government a notch higher by mentioning his previously banned song, Jaga jaga, banned twenty-one years ago, by the President Obasanjo-led administration. He noted. He said “I have travelled this road before as this is reminiscent of the ban of my song “ Jaga Jaga”by the Obasanjo administration 21 years ago!”
The singer’s statement is a result of tje NBC’s statement on his song. Recall that on the 9th of April, the NBC released a statement declaring Eedris Abdulkareem’s new single “Tell Your Papa” banned, and prevented it from being broadcasted on any media outlet. The commission stated that the song’s lyrical content calls for concern.
Also, the notice was sent to all broadcast stations on the release date, and it asserted that “Tell Your Papa,” which had become a social media sensation, goes against Section 3.1.8 of the commission’s Broadcasting code, and has been tagged “Not To Be Broadcast.”
Meanwhile, Eedris Abdulkareem is not new in using songs to criticise those in power. Also, his songs are known to pick at political and social issues. His song Mr. Lecturer release in 2002 was a criticism of sexual harassment by lecturers in Nigerian higher institutions. Also, his song, Jaga Jaga released in 2004 was used in criticising the then government, the corruption, bad economy and the suffering of the masses. This led to it being banned the same year.
Further, his 2024 song, Emi lo Kan, which translates to, “I am next,” criticised the political issues in Nigeria, and called out President Tinubu. The title is also President Tinubu’s campaign Slogan in 2023. Eedris alternated between Emi lo kan and Ebi lo kan (hunger is next), to capture the hunger and economic hardship that has become the order of the day.
