BENIN CITY, EDO STATE – The Edo State Government has sealed an event centre in the state following a party where popular Nigerian rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem , criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu , sparking allegations of political victimisation.
The facility, identified as Mega Hub , which also operates as an eatery, was reportedly sealed on Tuesday – just four days after hosting a party on April 3 tagged, ‘Mega Rave: A Night with the Legends,’ during which Abdulkareem was among the artistes who performed.
While the state government has denied any political motive, insisting the action was based on security concerns, the timing of the sealing has raised eyebrows among civil liberties advocates and social media users.
What Happened at the Mega Rave Event?
During his performance at the Mega Hub event centre, the veteran rapper paused briefly and launched into a sharp criticism of President Tinubu’s administration.
A video clip of the moment, which has since circulated widely on social media, showed Abdulkareem mocking the President over his visit to Plateau State following the killing of about 30 people in Gari Yawaye, Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area , on March 29.
In the clip, Abdulkareem faulted Tinubu for failing to visit the affected community despite being accompanied by a heavy security presence.
“Tinubu is the worst president Nigeria has ever had,” the rapper declared to cheers from the audience.
He further said anyone supporting the President and the All Progressives Congress (APC) would suffer for making the wrong choice. Abdulkareem also performed briefly on the country’s economic hardship , blaming the President for the dire situation.
Tinubu’s Plateau Visit: A Brief Recap
President Tinubu had arrived at the Yakubu Gowon Airport in Heipang at about 4:59 pm on April 2 – roughly 36 kilometres from the scene of the attack. There, he addressed politicians, traditional rulers, and selected victims before departing.
Critics, including Abdulkareem, argued that the President should have visited the actual scene of the massacre rather than remaining at a distance.
Centre Sealed Days After Show
According to reports, the event centre was sealed on Tuesday, April 7 – just four days after the party.
In a video uploaded on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, a man alleged that the state government shut the facility specifically because of Abdulkareem’s criticism of President Tinubu during the event.
“This is a very disturbing development in Edo State,” the man said in the video.
A short clip attached to the post showed the entrance of the centre barricaded with red tape. An inscription seen on the wall beside the main gate read: “Sealed by EDSG 7/4/26” – confirming that the facility was sealed by the Edo State Government on April 7, 2026.
Political Context: Okpebholo and Tinubu’s Alliance
Like Tinubu, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo , is a member of the APC. Governor Okpebholo has repeatedly pledged to deliver Edo State for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
In fact, the governor had vowed last year to resign from office if Tinubu failed to win Edo State in 2027 – underscoring the strong political alignment between the two leaders.
This political context has led many to question whether the sealing of the event centre was an act of political retaliation against a venue that hosted criticism of the President.
Government Denies Political Motive
Commenting on the development, the Edo State Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua , initially told Premium Times that he was unaware the government had sealed the facility.
He, however, later confirmed that the event centre was indeed sealed but denied that the action was linked to Abdulkareem’s criticism of President Tinubu.
“It was sealed because of a security issue. It has nothing to do with anybody criticising him (Tinubu),” Afegbua said.
The commissioner, however, did not provide details of the alleged security issue that prompted the sealing.
Centre Has Been Reopened
Afegbua also disclosed that the facility had since been reopened by the government.
“It is already unsealed. They (owners) are back with their business,” he added.
When asked when the centre was unsealed, Afegbua declined to give a direct answer, instead saying: “Go there and confirm yourself,” before ending the call.
Public Reaction: Suspicion and Skepticism
The government’s explanation has been met with widespread skepticism. Many Nigerians on social media have questioned why a “security issue” would lead to the sealing of an event centre days after a controversial performance – especially when no such security concerns were raised before the event.
Civil society organisations have also weighed in, warning against the use of state power to suppress dissent or punish venues that host government critics.
“If every event centre that hosted a critic of government could be sealed, then freedom of expression would be dead in this country,” one activist said.
