By Ifeoluwa Odunayo
Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the National Broadcasting Commission for banning Eedris Abdulkareem’s politically charged song Tell Your Papa, branding the action a blatant attack on freedom of expression.
The NBC, in a move that has drawn sharp criticism, labelled the track as Not To Be Broadcast under the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.
Reacting in a statement on Friday via its official Facebook page, Amnesty described the ban as unjustified and called on President Bola Tinubu to order an immediate reversal.
According to Amnesty, Abdulkareem’s song, which takes aim at government shortcomings, falls within the legal boundaries of free speech as protected by both Nigerian and international laws.
“This censorship is a direct assault on artistic freedom and an attempt to silence critical voices,” Amnesty stated, warning that such actions risk stifling creativity and eroding media independence in Nigeria.
The ban has since ignited a wave of debate, with activists and artists alike rallying in defence of the veteran musician.
Critics argue that silencing dissenting voices undermines democracy and signals a troubling trend of intolerance for opposing views.
As public outrage mounts, all eyes are now on the presidency to see whether the growing calls for the ban’s reversal will be heeded.
