AT A TIME when inflation keeps spiralling and public frustration deepens over insecurity, poverty, and failed promises, Nigerian hip-hop icon Eedris Abdulkareem has returned with another protest anthem, this time with a pointed message for the presidency—via the president’s son.
“Seyi, tell your papa, country hard. Tell your papa, people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga,” the rapper chants in his newly released song “Tell Your Papa,” echoing the disillusionment of millions grappling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Abdulkareem’s track, which premiered via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, directly addresses Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, in response to Seyi’s March 2025 comments describing his father as “the greatest president in Nigeria’s history.”
The hip-hop veteran pulls no punches, calling on the younger Tinubu to feel the hardship firsthand:
“Seyi, try to travel by road without your security, make you feel the pains of fellow Nigerians. You dey fly private jets, insecurity no be your problem.”
Abdulkareem’s lyrics mirror the country’s economic data and public mood. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s headline inflation rate stood at 23.2% in February 2025, easing slightly from 24.5% the previous month. Food inflation—long a source of pressure for low-income households—also declined to 23.51%, though millions still struggle to afford basic commodities.
Despite the slight improvement, the naira continues to weaken, trading at approximately ₦N1,629 to the US dollar as of April 8, 2025. The persistent currency devaluation continues to erode purchasing power and drive up the cost of living, especially for imported goods and services.
Security concerns remain acute across Nigeria, with several regions—particularly in the North-West and Middle Belt—plagued by recurring abductions and armed violence. A January 2025 report by SBM Intelligence, as cited by The Guardian Nigeria, identified cities such as Port Harcourt, Maiduguri, Lagos, Jos, Kano, and Onitsha, as well as parts of Rivers and Imo states, among the most dangerous spots for insecurity and violent attacks.
Similarly, a February 2025 Associated Press report noted that since 2017, Nigerian military airstrikes targeting rebels have resulted in approximately 400 civilian deaths, according to SBM Intelligence.
This aligns with Abdulkareem’s lyrics urging Seyi Tinubu to traverse the country without presidential security to understand the real state of public safety. His call resonates strongly with Nigerians who face daily threats of kidnapping, robbery, or worse—especially when travelling by road.
These grim statistics fuel Abdulkareem’s lyrics, which serve not just as musical expression but as a socio-political indictment.
“Tell Your Papa” draws a direct lineage from Abdulkareem’s 2004 classic “Nigeria Jaga Jaga,” a biting critique of Nigeria’s dysfunction that provoked fierce backlash from then-President Olusegun Obasanjo. At the time, Obasanjo rebuked the track, calling it “the height of blasphemy” and questioning Abdulkareem’s sanity for “daring to call his country Jaga Jaga.”
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That clash with authority defined Abdulkareem’s public persona—one not afraid to court controversy in pursuit of truth. Despite censorship and threats, he continued to use his platform for protest music, including the 2005 release “Letter to Mr President,” which addressed issues from bad governance to aviation disasters.
The 2025 sequel feels timely. As Nigeria faces a fresh wave of economic and security challenges, Abdulkareem once again steps into the role of musical gadfly—one who amplifies the voice of the street in an era of increasing political insulation.
Though official reactions to the new track remain muted, early responses on social media reveal deep resonance among listeners. The hashtag #TellYourPapa trended within hours of the song’s release, with many Nigerians praising the rapper for voicing public discontent.
Commentators drew parallels between the opulence of Nigeria’s political elite and the lived realities of its citizens. One user wrote, “Eedris sang our truth again. Seyi Tinubu should really listen to this.”
Critics of the president have pointed to growing youth unemployment—currently estimated at 53.4%—as a glaring indicator that the administration’s promises of “renewed hope” remain largely unmet. According to a 2024 report, Nigeria now ranks among the countries with the highest youth unemployment globally. Additional data from YMonitor projects the rate for young Nigerians aged 25 to 34 to have reached 53% by 2022—underscoring the persistent lack of opportunities for the country’s burgeoning youth population and a worsening brain drain.
The tradition Abdulkareem draws from is well-established in Nigeria. From Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat critiques of military rule to African China’s “Mr President,” music has long served as a vehicle for civic dissent in the face of government inertia.
What sets Abdulkareem apart, however, is his consistency and his directness. Unlike cryptic metaphors or vague slogans, his lyrics target individuals, name names, and hold power to account.
While many artists today steer clear of political controversy, Abdulkareem continues to wade into it, undeterred.
With the 2023 removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira—both decisions that led to sharp increases in transportation and food costs—the Tinubu administration has faced growing discontent despite promises of reform.
The World Bank’s report titled “Turning The Corner: Nigeria’s Ongoing Path of Economic Reforms,” published in June 2024, indicates that the number of Nigerians living below the poverty line increased from 70 million in 2010 to an estimated 109 million in 2023.
