Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has strongly condemned the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) ban on Eedris Abdulkareem’s protest song “Tell Your Papa”.
The song, which highlights the economic hardship faced by many Nigerians, was banned by the NBC on April 10, with the Commission describing it as “objectionable”.
In a statement issued from New York University, Abuja, on Saturday, Soyinka described the ban as ‘petulant irrationality’ and an attack on the constitutional right to free expression.
He warned that the government’s actions mirror a growing trend of intolerance for dissent, which could lead to authoritarianism.
The statement reads in part “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.
“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.
“The fundamental right of free expression, as already touched upon, 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.
“Whatever regulating body is responsible for this petulant irrationality should be compelled to reverse its misstep.”
In support of Soyinka is the Media Rights Agenda (MRA), who has described the NBC’s move as an abuse of power.
Eedris Abdulkareem has alleged that unidentified individuals attempted to bribe him with N200 million following the ban. This development has raised further questions about the motivations behind the NBC’s decision.
The ban on ‘Tell Your Papa’ has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for the protection of free speech in Nigeria. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen if the NBC will reverse its decision and allow the song to be aired.
