Veteran Nigerian rapper and social commentator Tobechukwu Melvin Ejiofor, widely known as Illbliss, has sounded the alarm on what he calls a dangerous blend of growing insecurity, economic hardship, rising propaganda, and the quiet censorship of dissenting voices in Nigeria.
Speaking during a recent episode of The Real Shareholders podcast, the respected lyricist painted a sobering picture of the country’s current state, highlighting how mechanisms of control have evolved beyond traditional media to permeate digital platforms.
“Nigeria is in one of the most dangerous periods in its history,” Illbliss said, citing the deliberate suppression of conscious music and critical commentary. He revealed that his 2020 protest track Country was removed from radio playlists due to its politically charged message.
“Before Country, I had songs like A Different Kind of War and National Cake. But OAPs (On-Air Personalities) would tell me they couldn’t play them because it could attract fines,” he disclosed, underscoring long-standing censorship in mainstream media.
According to Illbliss, this form of silencing has now shifted to digital spaces, where organized backlash and coordinated campaigns are increasingly used to stifle dissent.
“You drop a record and suddenly get hit with over a hundred tweets saying, ‘Why are you mocking the country? It’s not that bad.’ You can tell it’s coordinated. That’s digital propaganda,” he asserted.
He accused the government of subtly infiltrating social media spaces to influence narratives, using online influencers, sponsored podcasts, and comment brigades to drown out criticism and promote curated images of progress, often in contrast to the lived realities of ordinary Nigerians.
“We thought social media was our safe space for activism,” Illbliss said. “But now you have to wonder — has the government started funding distractions? Have they gotten more sophisticated than we thought?”
In his closing remarks, the Goretti Company boss urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and discerning, warning that the boundary between authentic civic discourse and manufactured digital propaganda is becoming increasingly blurred.
Illbliss’s remarks have since sparked conversations about freedom of expression, digital manipulation, and the role of artists and creatives in holding power to account.
"Propagandists can have a podcast just to say the government is doing great…"
illBliss tells a story of his conscious song, Country being taken off radio. pic.twitter.com/oPHetx835I
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) June 17, 2025