Rarara's New Political Song About Pantami Faces Heavy Criticism

A new political song dropped on Thursday by popular Hausa singer Dauda Kahutu, known as Rarara, is stirring up trouble. The song targets former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, and has led to serious backlash against Rarara due to its lyrics.

In the song, Rarara accuses Mr Pantami of drug use and praises Gombe State APC governorship candidate Jamilu Gwamna. Mr Pantami is running for governor under the Wike-backed People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The track has caught fire on social media, with many people saying the singer missed the mark. Instead of damaging Mr Pantami’s reputation to help the APC candidate, critics argue that the song has actually generated sympathy for the former minister.

Former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung, shared his concern about the declining standard of political discussions in northern Nigeria. He criticized the use of harsh personal attacks in the song.

Speaking about the backlash against Rarara, Mr Dalung said political music, which was once a source of education, inspiration, and civic engagement in the North, has turned into character assassination and public mockery. He pointed out that while political criticism is necessary for public accountability, it should be based on facts, not personal attacks.

“There was a time when political songs in the North inspired, educated, and mobilised,” Mr Dalung said. “Even the harshest praise singers understood there were lines that decent people simply did not cross. Today, it seems those lines have disappeared.”

He expressed worry that traditional values in northern Nigeria are fading away in the rush to score political points. “The North prides itself on adabi (good manners), kunya (modesty), and respect for human dignity,” he stated.

“Those values should not disappear just because someone has a political view we disagree with. If Sheikh Pantami is wrong, challenge him with facts. If his politics are inconsistent, expose the inconsistencies. If his public statements deserve scrutiny, scrutinise them.”

Mr Dalung condemned the acceptance of unverified claims and insults in public discussions. He warned that double standards are threatening the moral fabric of politics in the North. According to him, the most concerning part of the song is the support it has received from partisans who would typically condemn similar attacks against their leaders.

“Principles are only meaningful when they apply equally to friends and opponents,” he cautioned. “We cannot claim to defend Northern values while celebrating actions that erode the very values our elders taught us.”

Mr Dalung warned about the long-term effects on northern politics. He urged political players and commentators to improve the quality of public discussions. “Politics will come and go. Governments will rise and fall,” he noted. “But once we normalise indecency as a campaign strategy, rebuilding a culture of respectful disagreement becomes much harder. Our disagreements should sharpen our intellect, not coarse our character. The North deserves a higher standard of politics than this.”

Abdulaziz Jauro from Adamawa state commented on Facebook, saying that using hidden meanings to disguise character attacks does not make it art. He believes the piece is just a malicious attack aimed at ruining a reputation while pretending to be symbolic.

Mr Abdulaziz said Rarara used a big public platform to profit from insults and damage social norms. “Rarara’s latest song targeting Professor Pantami shows a worrying drop in artistic quality and ethical responsibility. Hiding accusations behind weak metaphors does not turn defamatory words into high art; it only hides a lack of thoughtful expression behind a show of symbolism. What looks like creativity is really a deliberate act to damage someone’s reputation.

“It is deeply troubling that someone with such a wide reach has chosen to turn his platform into a tool for insults instead of cultural enrichment. This kind of rhetoric does not enlighten the public; it encourages the breakdown of civil discussion and rewards sensationalism over real issues.

“This is not artistic bravery. It is a show of moral failure and a shocking abandonment of the ethical duties that come with influence. When talent is used for character attacks, the result is neither music nor meaningful commentary; it is simply the degradation of both art and public discussion,” Mr Jauro said.

Another commentator, Nuhu Dantani, warned Gombe APC governorship candidate, Mr Gwamna, about losing support for APC candidates after the release of this controversial song. “I support Dr Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, and I believe he is a good man. But if he loses in the 2027 Gombe governorship race, Rarara should take the blame,” Mr Dantani, a lawyer and rights activist, said.

He cautioned that the song by Rarara might have ended up boosting Mr Pantami’s popularity instead. “In his song, he only succeeded in raising Prof Pantami’s profile and enhancing his dignity and respect. On election day, the impact of this mistake will be clear.”