Disclaimer: I’ve never met VeryDarkMan. He didn’t ask for this. But history doesn’t wait for permission.
What happens when institutions fail so completely that a man with a smartphone becomes more potent than parliament? Nigeria is finding out in real time.
I’ve said that Africa will finally breathe if Nigeria gets its act together. The twist? That shift may begin not with policy, but with a shirtless man holding a phone.
Meet VeryDarkMan (VDM), the real name of Martins Vincent Otse. Born on April 8, 1994, in Kaduna, this University of Lagos graduate has transformed into a digital vigilante, wielding social media as a sword and truth as a shield.
The Voice of the Streets Understand
VDM isn’t just viral; he’s vital. With over 2 million Instagram followers, a Davido endorsement, and a Silverbird nomination, he commands respect without needing a suit. He drinks sachet water, eats with his bare hands, and wears cowrie beads like a modern griot.
His authenticity isn’t cosplay, it’s currency.
But authenticity comes at a cost. When you reflect the people’s views, you take on their pressures. Unlike NGOs or political actors, VDM’s financial model is unclear, likely relying on content monetization and influence. Without transparency, credibility may diminish.
When Institutions Collapse, Influencers Rise.
Nigeria’s courts frequently remain inactive. Parliament performs theatrics, and anti-corruption bodies are compromised. In this void, VDM intervenes, revealing celebrity scams, miracle pastors, and corrupt elites.
His battle with Pastor Fufeyin’s miracle soap resulted in a ₦1B lawsuit. His videos compel banks and media outlets to respond uncomfortably. He doesn’t require power to enforce accountability, just a smartphone and a signal.
However, let’s not romanticize this: Instagram’s algorithm favours outrage over nuance. What gets clicks isn’t always what gets truth.
When Online Outrage Hits the Streets.
On May 2, 2025, EFCC officers arrested VDM in Abuja. Within hours, #FreeVDM trended. Protesters gathered. By May 7, he was free.
His movement works, but it tiptoes into trial by internet. Followers don’t just watch, they pounce. Mob justice risks replacing due process.
The Wallace Comparison and Its Limits.
Like Wallace, VDM emerged from obscurity to challenge a broken system. Both spoke the people’s language, used asymmetrical tactics, and faced brutal pushback.
But Wallace fought feudal tyranny. VDM operates in a democracy, albeit a shaky one. The test isn’t rebellion. It’s rebuilding.
Unlike Wallace, VDM has no battlefield martyrdom to aim for; instead, it is the exhausting work of keeping truth alive in a distracted age.
The System Learns Back.
Since 2024, VDM has faced multiple arrests, defamation suits, and increasing digital surveillance. His iCloud was allegedly accessed. Nigerian authorities are adapting to silence through sophistication.
Meanwhile, VDM’s exposés sometimes leap ahead of facts. When you destroy reputations in real time, who checks the checker?
Global Lessons in Real Time
Nigeria’s dysfunction birthed VDM. But this isn’t uniquely Nigerian.
From India to the U.S., digital vigilantes emerge because institutions fail. Social media isn’t just a mirror; it’s now a gavel.
The revolution is live-streaming. However, it can’t be displayed on all screens and lacks a spine.
TIGER’S ROAR: Evolution Needs Scaffolding
VDM isn’t entertainment, he’s evolution. And evolution, to last, needs scaffolding, not just sentiment.
THREE STRATEGIC NEXT STEPS:
1. Build Functional Institutions. Digital exposés should lead to courtrooms, not just hashtags. Rebuild what failed.
2. Demand Platform Fairness Tech giants must apply content policies in Africa with the same rigour as the West. Equal rights require equal algorithms.
3. Ensure Financial Transparency. Activists must be accountable, too. VDM’s sustainability depends on trust, and trust needs clarity.
The Leadership Question
Who’s building after the outrage fades? How are you strengthening accountability before your citizens create their own VDM?
Watch this space. The revolution is live-streaming, but real change happens offline.
What accountability mechanisms is your organization building? How do you balance transparency with due process in the digital age?
#DigitalActivism #Nigeria #Leadership #Accountability #InstitutionalReform #VDM
Tiger Rifkin is the creator of The Witty Observer, a Pan-African media platform focused on geopolitics, leadership, and bold commentary on Africa’s global future.