Controversial social media personality, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has publicly blasted his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, over a post advising him to avoid unnecessary risks in his activism.
Trouble started after Adeyanju took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle to express concern for VDM’s safety, warning that Nigerians are quick to forget anyone who gets hurt in the line of public advocacy.
“I call VDM every time to be careful and stop taking unnecessary risks, but he doesn’t listen most of the time,” Adeyanju wrote. “If anything happens to you today, everyone has moved on by tomorrow. We only overrate ourselves, Nigerians don’t rate anybody.”
The post sparked speculation of a brewing rift between the lawyer and his client, with many interpreting the remark as dismissive and demotivating.
Reacting, VDM via his Instagram condemned the statement, describing it as “cowardly” and unbefitting of someone who claims to be a comrade in the fight for justice.
“I’m really disappointed by this tweet from my lawyer about me,” VDM said. “Especially because you, Deji, are supposed to be a comrade. If it was just any random Nigerian that said it, I’d understand. But you?”
He continued, “Yes, it’s true Nigerians will move on if anything happens to me. But who doesn’t the world move on from? Jesus Christ died, the world moved on. The Pope dies, they replace him. Presidents die, people move on. So who do you think you are?”
VDM argued that such rhetoric is part of a broader strategy used by the political elite to instill fear and silence dissenting voices. “Anybody wey open him mouth talk that kind thing is a coward. I swear to God,” he said. “That’s the type of talk politicians use to shut people up.”
He went further to highlight that even those who avoid taking risks aren’t always safe. “People wey no even talk, them still dey kill them for their houses. Look at what’s happening in Benue, Borno, Taraba, Delta, Enugu. You think you’re special? We are all nothing.”
Adeyanju is a human rights activist and Convener, Concerned Nigerians who has constantly supported, backed VDM’s controversial and high-profile activism.