Why Eedris Abdulkareem Is Touring Nigerian States, Assessing Governors and Turning Their Performance Into Music

…Veteran rapper says leaders must be praised when they perform and called out when they fail

Veteran Nigerian rapper and social commentator, Eedris Abdulkareem, is taking his longstanding tradition of using music to address national issues a step further, embarking on a mission to visit states across Nigeria, assess the performance of their governments and document his findings through music.

For the outspoken musician, who has spent decades using his songs to challenge political leaders and speak about the struggles of ordinary Nigerians, the initiative is driven by a simple philosophy: leaders must be held accountable, praised when they perform and criticised when they fall short.

Rather than limiting his commentary to developments in Abuja or relying solely on public perceptions of political officeholders, Eedris wants to take his message directly to the states, examining government policies, projects and interventions and translating his observations into songs that Nigerians can easily connect with.

The initiative reflects his belief that music can serve as more than entertainment. It can also function as a tool for public enlightenment, political accountability and the documentation of developments across the country.

Eedris, whose career has been defined by socially conscious records and an outspoken approach to national affairs, believes that constructive criticism and recognition of good governance should go hand in hand.

His position is that holding leaders accountable does not necessarily mean condemning everything they do. Where governments deliver meaningful results, such achievements should be acknowledged. Where they fail to meet public expectations, they should equally be challenged.

That philosophy has already influenced two of his recent musical projects, “Maintain” and “Overcoming Challenges,” which focus on developments in Edo and Abia states respectively.

In Edo State, Eedris turned his attention to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s campaign against violent cultism, a longstanding security challenge that has affected communities across the state.

The resulting single, Maintain, released under Lakreem Entertainment, examines the administration’s anti-cultism efforts and presents a musical warning to individuals involved in cult-related violence, criminality and other activities that threaten public safety.

Through the song, Eedris highlights what he considers encouraging steps by the Edo State Government towards confronting the menace, while urging those involved in criminal activities to stay away from trouble and respect the law.

The song’s message is captured in its street-inspired title, Maintain, effectively telling troublemakers to keep a low profile and avoid actions that could bring them into conflict with law enforcement.

In Abia State, the rapper’s attention has shifted to Governor Alex Otti, whose administration has attracted public discussion over its infrastructure projects, governance reforms and efforts to improve public services.

His song, “Overcoming Challenges,” focuses on what Eedris considers the positive developments taking place under Otti’s leadership, acknowledging the administration’s efforts while recognising that governance remains an ongoing process with challenges yet to be addressed.

For the musician, the two songs demonstrate that his approach to political commentary is not built around attacking leaders for the sake of controversy or celebrating them without scrutiny.

Instead, he wants his music to reflect what he discovers about government performance, giving recognition where he believes it is deserved and raising questions where public expectations are not being met.

According to Lagos News hub, his latest initiative introduces a more deliberate state-by-state approach, with the musician seeking to examine developments beyond the national political headlines and bring attention to what governments are doing at the subnational level.

The project could also create opportunities to highlight issues that receive limited national attention, including community infrastructure, healthcare, education, security and economic development.

His ambition is to build a body of work that reflects the state of governance across Nigeria, celebrating progress where it exists while drawing attention to areas requiring improvement.

The initiative also comes with an important responsibility: ensuring that assessments of government performance are based on credible information, the experiences of affected communities and evidence of actual outcomes rather than official claims alone.