Veteran Nigerian hip-hop artiste and activist, Eedris Abdulkareem, has stirred fresh controversy following his revelation that he was allegedly offered a bribe of N200 million by an unidentified individual claiming to be a senator. The offer, according to the musician, was disguised as underground support for his newly released protest song, Tell Your Papa.
The embattled track, which delivers a scathing critique of Nigeria’s political leadership and prevailing economic hardships, was officially banned by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Thursday, April 10. The ban has since provoked backlash from civil society groups and prominent stakeholders within the Nigerian creative industry.
In a video that has gone viral, Abdulkareem narrated how he received a suspicious phone call from a man who initially introduced himself as a “Honourable” and later claimed to be a senator. According to the artist, the caller mentioned being part of a meeting involving Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, and other government officials.
“He said, ‘They are going to call you and bribe you, don’t listen to them, we are going to be sponsoring you underground’,” Abdulkareem recounted. “I told him I wasn’t interested. He said, ‘We will give you N200 million’.”
The Jaga Jaga crooner, known for his bold critiques of the political establishment, said he rejected the offer outright, suspecting an ulterior motive aimed at silencing or discrediting him.
“Immediately I heard his voice, I knew he was sent. I told him, ‘Go and rest somewhere, I am not interested. Thieves, may God punish all of you’.”
The artist also suggested that the attempt to “sponsor” him might have been part of a plot to ridicule or record him in a compromising situation.
The NBC’s decision to ban Tell Your Papa has come under intense scrutiny. The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) issued a statement condemning the move, cautioning that it may have the opposite effect of amplifying the song’s impact.
“It only serves to amplify the song’s reach and relevance in light of the current socio-economic challenges facing Nigerians,” PMAN stated.
Similarly, the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) criticized the NBC’s action, describing it as a “blatant abuse of regulatory power.” In a statement signed by Programme Officer, Ayomide Eweje, the MRA accused the Commission of overstepping its mandate.
“The NBC has completely confused its role as a supposedly independent media regulatory body with that of a propaganda agency charged with shielding the government from criticism or embarrassment,” the statement read.
As public outrage builds over issues of censorship, artistic freedom, and government accountability, Abdulkareem’s defiance has rekindled national conversations about the place of protest music in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
With Tell Your Papa now trending across online platforms, many are asking whether the government’s attempt to stifle dissent has only emboldened voices of resistance.
