Veteran rapper Eedris Abdulkareem is enjoying a wave of public support and streaming success as his protest track, “Tell Your Papa”, continues to soar despite a ban by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

The controversial song, which openly criticises President Bola Tinubu’s administration, was officially banned from Nigerian airwaves on April 10 for allegedly breaching the broadcasting code. But rather than silence the message, the move has fueled public interest.

On YouTube, views for “Tell Your Papa” jumped from 22,754 with 1,200 likes to over 82,000 views and 2,600 likes, while Spotify streams surged past 30,000 — clear signs that Nigerians are rallying behind Abdulkareem’s bold stance.

In response to the ban, Abdulkareem blasted the government for stifling dissent, comparing it to the censorship of his iconic 2004 anthem “Jaga Jaga.” On Instagram, he wrote, “It’s obvious that in Nigeria, truth and constructive criticism is always deemed a big crime by the government.”

The ban drew sharp criticism from the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), which predicted the action would backfire — and it has.

Joining the chorus, Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka condemned the NBC’s move, calling it a dangerous return to censorship and a threat to freedom of expression. In a statement from New York University Abu Dhabi, Soyinka mockingly suggested the ban wasn’t harsh enough, quipping, “The musician himself should be proscribed.”

He warned that a government intolerant of criticism is on a “downhill slide into the abyss,” noting that he hadn’t listened to the track, but the issue transcends content and strikes at the heart of democracy.

“The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be warbling his merry way to the bank. I envy him,” Soyinka added.

Fans on social media echoed the outrage:

@Sheggzyunited on YouTube wrote, “Naija government, this is 2025 for goodness sake. There’s no single lie in the song.”

Asa Anthony said, “They were too quick to ban it because the message was well passed. We move to streaming platforms.”

@directorjoelmatt on Instagram added, “Our government don’t like the truth.”

As the ban backfires spectacularly, “Tell Your Papa” continues to resonate, turning Abdulkareem’s protest into a viral anthem for frustrated Nigerians.