The Edo State Government has temporarily sealed an event centre, Mega Hub, following a performance by popular Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem during a live show where he openly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to reports by Premium Times, the incident happened on 3 April during an event tagged “Mega Rave: A Night with the Legends,” where the veteran rapper paused his performance to voice strong criticism of the federal government. His comments focused on worsening insecurity and economic hardship across the country.
A viral video from the event showed Abdulkareem also mocking a recent visit by President Bola Tinubu to Plateau State, alleging that the president did not visit communities affected by a deadly attack. The remarks quickly sparked widespread reactions online, with many debating both the message and the timing of his comments.
Days after the event, officials of the Edo State Government reportedly sealed the venue, Mega Hub. Footage circulating on social media showed the premises barricaded with a sign reading: “Sealed by EDSG 7/4/26.” This immediately fueled speculation that the action was connected to the rapper’s on-stage criticism.
However, the Commissioner for Information in Edo State, Kassim Afegbua, dismissed claims of political motivation. He explained that the closure was based strictly on security intelligence and not related to any statements made against the president.
“It was sealed because of a security issue. It has nothing to do with anybody criticising him,” Afegbua stated.
In a later update, he confirmed that the facility had since been reopened, although he did not provide further details on the specific security concern or what led to the reversal of the closure.
The development has continued to generate debate online, with observers divided over whether the action was purely security-driven or influenced by the politically charged atmosphere surrounding the performance.
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