In a recent interview on Naija FM, Timaya didn’t hold back when discussing fellow musician Eedris Abdulkareem, labeling him as “a talkative who no one is afraid of” in the music industry.
The conversation sparked when the host compared the two Nigerian artists, suggesting that both were perceived as feared figures in the industry. However, Timaya quickly dismissed the notion, stating that he is not like Abdulkareem, neither in his behavior nor his approach to relationships within the industry.
“I don’t talk or behave like Eedris,” Timaya asserted. “Nobody fears Eedris because he talks too much. Right from time.” The singer added that he values self-respect and prefers earning respect from others rather than demanding fear.
“I don’t even want people to be afraid of me. I respect myself so that people can respect me too,” Timaya continued. “Eedris and I never had any problem. The relationship we had was because I worked with him. I learned what I needed and moved on.”
Timaya also reflected on the past, stating that his connection with Abdulkareem was primarily professional. “I don’t even think he knew my name at that time. I only just gave him shoutouts because he was part of my story. We don’t have any reason to communicate.”
The tension between the two artists goes back to 2017, when Eedris Abdulkareem called Timaya an “ingrate” in an interview, claiming he wouldn’t have achieved success without Abdulkareem’s earlier support. In response, Timaya fired back, accusing Abdulkareem of using his services without proper compensation and belittling him during their collaboration.
He also advised Abdulkareem to focus on improving himself instead of blaming others for his shortcomings, adding, “He regarded me like a nobody. He should work on himself and stop blaming people.”
