Almost four years after releasing his politically charged track Yakubu, which criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its then Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, award-winning rapper and activist Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, has returned with a new single titled Ole.
In Ole—a Yoruba word meaning “thief”—the artiste accuses political leaders of failing to address Nigeria’s worsening socio-economic challenges. Released amid growing concerns over rising inflation, unemployment, and insecurity, the 2:15-minute rap track delivers some of Falz’s most direct political commentary in recent years. Serving as the lead single from his upcoming EP Break Time, scheduled for release on June 26, 2026, the song references real-life incidents, including the killing of a brigadier general and the abduction and murder of teachers.
“Many still ain’t really free, many losing all the will, many soldiers in the field, many brothers dem dey kill,” he raps in one of the verses. The song also highlights concerns over kidnappings and violent crime. “Many people wey dem kidnap, and dem turn them to deceased,” he adds.
Beyond insecurity, Falz addresses economic hardship, particularly rising inflation and the escalating cost of living. “How many we go take before we don fed up? Inflation rate is high, like my blood pressure,” he raps. He further criticizes leaders for exploiting ethnic and political divisions. “Don’t think that you can whip up tribal sentiments for life. Keep keeping people poor and hope that you can weaponise. Hope that you can bank on all the hungry votes that you can buy,” he says.
In another verse, he questions the government’s response to insecurity: “Security welfare na the primary job you take,” he says, referencing the constitutional duty of government to protect lives and property. He also condemns the killing of security personnel and ongoing attacks by armed groups. “For under your nose dem kill a whole brigadier general,” he raps. “Who dem catch for the crime? Arrest count still on zero.”
The release has sparked mixed reactions. While some fans praised the song’s message, others criticised the artiste for focusing on political commentary rather than mainstream music output. A pro-APC commentator, Christians Folashade (known as Sistaliano), said Falz appears to rely on political themes to remain relevant in the music industry, arguing that other artistes have maintained dominance through consistent musical releases. Another commentator, Balogun Onome, added: “We have heard too many songs about bad government, but we don’t take steps to change them.”
