ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) 鈥� Authorities in Nigeria have barred radio stations from playing a song critical of and his administration鈥檚 policies, according to a memo seen Friday by The Associated Press.
The country's media regulator described the content of 鈥淭ell Your Papa鈥� in the memo to radio stations as 鈥渋nappropriate for broadcast.鈥�
The song is a response by musician and outspoken government critic Eedris Abdulkareem to recent remarks by Seyi Tinubu, the president's son, who called his father the greatest leader in the country's history.
In the afrobeats track, Abdulkareem asks the younger Tinubu to tell his father that his policies have brought to Africa鈥檚 most populous country, while highlighting what he calls a string of unfulfilled 鈥渆mpty promises.鈥�
Since taking office in 2023, such as the removal of subsidies on gasoline have hit hard as Nigeria grapples with fluctuating prices.
Last year, and hundreds more were arrested at protests demanding better opportunities and jobs for young people.
In Wednesday's memo, the National Broadcasting Commission said the song violated section 3.1.8 of the country鈥檚 broadcasting code that prohibits content that is in 鈥渂reach of public decency.鈥� Still, the song has gone viral on social media.
Addressing the ban in an Instagram post, Abdulkareem said constructive criticism is always seen as a crime by the government.
鈥淎ny wonder why Nigeria hasn鈥檛 made impactful strides all these years?鈥� he said.
In 2004, another of Abdulkareem鈥檚 songs, 鈥淛aga Jaga,鈥� was banned. It was a critique of former President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration, which he described as corrupt.
The 鈥渂izarre ban鈥� of the song is a violation of freedom of expression, Amnesty International said in a statement, describing the action as an abuse of power.
鈥淭his clamp down on artistic freedom is an appalling reminder that artists are at the risk of being silenced,鈥� the rights group said.
Dyepkazah Shibayan, The Associated Press
