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Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has lashed out at the federal government following the ban of a controversial track by rapper Eedris Abdulkareem. He described the decision as a clear step backwards into censorship and a direct threat to freedom of speech.
The Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), in a circular dated Wednesday, directed all radio and TV stations to stop airing the song Tell Your Papa, citing its “objectionable nature.” The track openly criticises the state of the nation and mentions President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, in its lyrics—a move that has generated significant public attention.
Reacting in a statement titled Surely, Not Again, Soyinka condemned the move and ridiculed what he called the government’s hypersensitivity to criticism.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka wrote.
He went further, sarcastically suggesting that the authorities should go beyond banning the song and completely silence everyone involved.
“My position is that such a progressive move by the government and its agencies does not go far enough. It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is a member, should also go under the hammer. Nor should we ignore the cartoonist, Ebun Aleshinloye, who not only etched out his trenchant response to the ban but disseminated it all the way to Abu Dhabi. Let’s simply go the whole hog!”
Although Soyinka admitted he hadn’t listened to the song, he said that was irrelevant. For him, what mattered was the principle at stake.
“I have yet to listen to the record, but the principle is inflexibly etched on any democratic template. It cannot be flouted. That, surely, is basic.”
He argued that such bans usually backfire and instead draw more attention to the content in question.
“The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him.”
Drawing from past experience, Soyinka pointed out that this isn’t the first time Nigerian authorities have tried to suppress dissent, and it rarely ends well.
“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseam. 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.”
He also warned about the ripple effects of such actions, where others in power begin to follow suit and punish critics unlawfully.
“It also creates a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power where governors have been known to pursue social critics across state borders, kidnap and imprison them for long spells, using the judicial machinery of never-ending trials. Oh, bear in mind also theocratic ‘authorities’ that continue to arrogate to themselves the right to arrest and imprison artists and thinkers for their expression of opinion and vision of human existence.”
In his closing remarks, Soyinka said a government that can’t tolerate criticism is on the wrong path.
“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.
“Whatever regulating body is responsible for this petulant irrationality should be compelled to reverse its misstep.”
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