Eedris Abdulkareem composing a new single as a response to Keyamo
Nigeria Minister of State, Labour and Employment Festus Keyamo has fired back at a famous Nigerian singer, Eedris Abdulkareem, who mentioned his name in his latest song.
The song ‘Jaja Jaja reloaded’ was released on April 20 2021.
At the end of the song, Eedris asked a question, “where Festus Keyamo sef? He don dey chop with cabal o,” meaning, “where is Festus Keyamo? He is eating with the cabal.”
The Minister claimed in his reply in the early hour of Sunday that the singer mentioned his name after he failed to lend him money.
Keyamo, who said he was dancing to the song when he heard his name, said Eedris contacted him in 2018, willing to support the Buhari campaign organization “for a fee.”
The lawyer turned politician was the Director of Strategic Communications for President Buhari’s Campaign Organization in 2018.
“He then made desperate efforts to see me through text messages from his phone no. 07019691772,” Keyamo alleged with series of images posted to validate his claims.
“When I finally met with him, I listened to the songs but told him I had no budget for such or any for that matter.”
The Minister said Eedris demanded a N1.3m loan to “pay for his hotel bills” and to “cater for his sick mum.”
“That was already running into more than N3m,” he added.
Keyamo, who sounded disappointed in his statement, said he was not the only one Eedris approached for money, claiming “one government functionary called me to say he told him another story about his child was sick”.
The politician also claimed the singer appealed to him to introduce him to the Attorney General of the Federation, Malami, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Gidahyelda Mustapha.
Keyamo said, “He begged me to introduce him to Malami (AGF), Amaechi & the SGF and to paint a good ‘PR’ for him. He pledged that he was with us with his whole ‘body and soul’. But at this point, I knew he was a desperate hustler who could embarrass me, so I ghosted him”
The Member of the All Progressives Congress claimed Eedris became bittered and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar after his failed attempt to join Buhari’s campaign.
“After our victory, he went berserk and joined every protest against the same Buhari whom he wanted to serve with his whole ‘body and soul’, but needed money to do so.
“He has been mentioning my name specifically at occasions as if I am the cause of all his troubles in life.
“Now, the latest is the ‘jagajaga reloaded’ that he has waxed to vent his frustrations at not getting into the system. “
“Finally, we can all sit back and enjoy the ‘jagajaga reloaded’. One of the objectives of the song is to call me out since I ghosted him for attempted extortion – he has now succeeded. Another objective is to help promote the song by my reaction – that he has also achieved!”
Standard Gazette contacted Eedris via his Whatsapp page. He, however, assured us of his response later. SG can also confirm that Eedris would release a new single as part of his response to the Minister.
He said “Don’t worry will reachout tomorow with my short reply my song will tell the story in full in few days.”
Why The Commotion?
Eedris Abdulkareem is not new to a commotion in the music industry. When he first released Nigeria Jaga Jaga in 2004 during the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the song caused reactions and counter-reactions between him and the then President, who felt the singer was a disgrace for calling Nigeria “Jaga Jaga”.
In a country where nothing is working – no power, no good road, President seek health care in the UK, and corruption is the way of life; Jaja Jaja resonates with many Nigerians.
Jaja Jaga Reloaded, featuring fellow rapper Mr Raw and Madarocka, released on April 20, talks about the current situation 20 years after his first Jaja Jaja song.
The song emphasizes the massacre of Lekki Tollgate protesters in Lagos in October 2020.