I didn’t attack Seyi Tinubu but …-Eedris Abdulkareem

Veteran Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem has refuted claims that his latest track, Tell Your Papa, is a personal attack on Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu. Instead, he says the song is a direct response to Seyi’s public endorsement of his father as Nigeria’s “greatest president.”

Speaking on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds, Abdulkareem explained that the track was inspired by a video clip in which Seyi passionately defended his father’s legacy during a political event in Yola, Adamawa State, in March.

“If Seyi hadn’t spoken, I wouldn’t have responded,” the rapper said. “The song is a message, not an insult. It’s a call for leadership that listens and acts on the issues affecting ordinary Nigerians.”

Abdulkareem emphasized that the track addresses pressing concerns such as poor electricity supply, insecurity, unemployment, and the lack of a conducive economic environment for young Nigerians. He also criticized the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) decision to ban the song from airplay, describing the move as censorship. The ban has drawn criticism from various quarters, including Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka.

Reflecting on his 2001 hit Jaga Jaga, the artist said the continued relevance of that song highlights the country’s slow pace of progress.

“Seyi said his father is the best president,” Abdulkareem remarked. “Maybe he is—to him. But the average Nigerian youth is still struggling. There’s no food, no safety on the roads, and no jobs. I’d like Seyi to try traveling without security and see what citizens experience daily.”

He advised the younger Tinubu to take a step back from public speaking roles, saying, “Sometimes, silence says more. He lacks the clarity and honesty needed to speak on Nigeria’s real issues.”