In his latest song, “Tell Your Papa,” Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem has once again turned his attention to the country’s ongoing economic struggles, calling out the government of President Bola Tinubu.
At 51, he once again uses his platform to voice the suffering many Nigerians are experiencing under the current administration. The new track serves as a direct message to Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, urging him to speak to his father about the harsh realities on the ground.
In the song, Eedris pleads to Seyi to address the difficulties Nigerians are facing, singing, “Tell your papa Seyi/ Tell your papa country hard/ Tell your papa people dey die.”
His lyrics express the depth of hardship and plight of many Nigerians. He condemns the government for making what he describes as “too many empty promises,” accusing them of offering only “balablu grammar,” a phrase that suggests meaningless or empty words.
The rapper’s words reflect a sense of frustration and disappointment with the government’s inability to address the nation’s most pressing issues.
“Seyi, ebi n pa mekunu/ Tinubu, ebi n pa mekunu,” Eedris raps, a direct reference to the hardships Nigerians are enduring, from economic woes to the loss of lives.
He accuses the administration of failing to live up to its promises, signaling a sentiment that many Nigerians share as they grapple with the rising costs of living and other national challenges.
It should be noted that Eedris has long used his music as a tool for social and political commentary. This isn’t the first time he has criticized the government.
In June 2024, he released the song “Emilokan,” in which he challenged Pastor Enoch Adeboye, founder of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, to be as outspoken against Tinubu’s administration as he had been against the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Through his music, Eedris has consistently raised his voice on matters of national concern, particularly in the face of perceived government failure to address citizens’ needs.
It should also be recalled that his 2004 hit “Jaga Jaga,” which criticized the state of the nation, was banned by then-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
But despite the ban, the song became an underground anthem, resonating with many Nigerians who felt similarly disenfranchised.
