Nigerian government’s ban of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song is boring, time wasting, says Soyinka

The Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka has mocked the Nigerian government for ban of Eedris Abdulkareem’s song which criticized the administration for being out of touch with Nigerians’ struggles.

Penpushing reports that Soyinka declared that attempts to regulate artistic content and suppressing critical voices and independent thoughts of citizens is not only futile but also damaging to the country’s democratic development.

The renowned author added that governments that prioritise blind loyalty over constructive criticism are on a path to disaster, emphasizing that the ban would only serve to promote the musician’s work, and thanked government on free promotion of the music.

“The fundamental right of free expression is not a closet affair; it is never hidden but echoes as loudly on international fora as in the most obscure hamlet. Any government that is tolerant only of yes-men and women, which accommodates only praise-singers and dancers to the official beat, has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss’, he said

Penpushing further reports that in the statement Soyinka ironically praised the government’s progressive move in banning the song but argued that it didn’t go far enough, and boring time wasting

“We have been through this before, over and over again. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizure of the fundamental right of free expression.”

Penpushing also reports that it is recalled that the musician had released a song, “Tell Your Papa,” in response to Seyi Tinubu’s claim that his father, President Bola Tinubu, is Nigeria’s greatest leader.

The 50-year-old rapper, who has a history of using his music for socio-political commentary in the song, criticises Seyi Tinubu for being out of touch with Nigerians’ struggles, and highlighted issues like economic hardship, insecurity, and kidnapping that ordinary Nigerians are grappling with.

“Seyi, tell your papa, country hard. Tell your papa, people dey die. Tell your papa this one don pass jagajaga. Seyi, how far? I swear your papa, no try—there are too many empty promises. On behalf of Nigerians, take our message to him. Kidnappers dey kill Nigerians’, the song stated rapped.

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