Amnesty International has condemned the National Broadcasting Commission for banning Eedris Abdulkareem’s ‘Tell Your Papa’ song.
“Categorising the song as ‘Not To Be Broadcast’ for solely being critical of the government and people in power is an abuse of power and is unacceptable,” said the rights organisation in a statement on Thursday.
Amnesty International stated that President Bola Tinubu, whom the song targeted, “must immediately direct the NBC to withdraw the bizarre ban which violates a range of human rights.”
It added, “The National Broadcasting Commission’s blatant ban of broadcasting Eedris Abdulkareem’s song “Tell Your Papa” is a clear violation of freedom of expression, which includes the right to obtain information.”
The organisation noted that Nigerians have the right to freedom of expression and access to information “and there is no legal justification to ban broadcasting the song” on radio and TV.
Citing the “deeply flawed and problematic Nigerian Broadcasting Code to justify the ban”, Amnesty International pointed out that the nationwide prohibition “shows a new level of intolerance of dissenting voices” by Mr Tinubu’s regime.
It further noted that the song ban highlighted the need to “urgently repeal heavy censorship regulations of NBC that have been used to curb freedom of expression in the country.”
Amnesty International also mentioned that the “arbitrary and unlawful ban by the NBC would have a disproportionate and chilling effect on the work of radio and television stations in Nigeria.”
It considered the clampdown on artistic freedom as “an appalling reminder that artists are at the risk of being silenced. Nothing can justify suffocating creative freedom.”
NBC banned ‘Tell Your Papa’ from airing on national airwaves on Monday. In a notice circulated to all broadcast stations on April 9, NBC said the song violated section 3.1.8 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and should be classified as ‘Not To Be Broadcast’.
Meanwhile, Mr Abdulkareem has slammed Mr Tinubu’s regime as vindictive, insensitive and destructive for banning his song.
“It’s obvious that in Nigeria, truth and constructive criticism is always deemed as a big crime by the government,” he said on Thursday. “This present government led by President Bola Tinubu is now going on record as one of the most insensitive, vindictive and grossly maleficent administration ever to preside over the affairs of Nigeria.”
