A deep rift has erupted between Nigerian social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, and his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.
The controversy took center stage on July 22, 2025, after Adeyanju advised his client to avoid unnecessary risks in his activism.
Warning that the nation would move on if anything untoward happened to him.
VeryDarkMan vehemently rejected the counsel, branding his own lawyer as a coward and exposing serious tensions within their relationship.
The Lawyer’s Caution: “Everyone Will Move On”
Deji Adeyanju, an activist and legal defender to VeryDarkMan, posted a public warning on his social media.
He urged VeryDarkMan to be more cautious, emphasizing that public support has a short lifespan and that Nigerians quickly move past individual losses.
“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.”
Adeyanju’s message reflected a realistic, if somber, appraisal of the risks his client faces as a bold critic of powerful interests in Nigeria.
His appeal aimed to protect VeryDarkMan from the dangers inherent in his activism.
VeryDarkMan’s Fiery Rebuttal: Rejecting “Coward Talk”
Rather than heeding this advice, VeryDarkMan fired back angrily in a viral video that shocked followers.
Expressing deep disappointment, he questioned why his lawyer, a fellow activist, would make such a statement.
“First thing first, I’m really disappointed in my lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.
I’m so disappointed in you for this post especially because you are a comrade,” the activist stated sternly.
“If it was an ordinary Nigerian that said this, I would have assumed they don’t know better.”
He condemned the notion that Nigerians would simply move on if he were harmed, calling it cowardice.
“Anybody wey open him mouth talk that thing is a coward,” he declared.
He traced the phrase to a tactic deployed by politicians to scare voices from speaking out.
Death and Legacy: VeryDarkMan’s Historical Perspective
Using powerful historical examples, VeryDarkMan dismissed fears of being forgotten after death as irrelevant to his mission.
He cited Jesus Christ, the Catholic Pope, and former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari all deceased figures whose legacies continued despite their passing.
“It’s true that Nigerians will move on if anything happens to me today.
But is there anyone that will die and Nigeria will not move on?
Jesus Christ died, the world moved on.
The Pope died, the world moved on and a new Pope was installed.
Buhari died, Nigeria moved on.
Who do you think is special, you?”
He questioned pointedly.
For VeryDarkMan, the inevitability of life moving on does not justify living in fear or silence.
The Harsh Reality of Activism in Nigeria
VeryDarkMan highlighted the dangers faced even by those who do not take risks.
He cited recent violent incidents across Nigerian states like Benue, Borno, Taraba, Delta, and Enugu, where individuals lost their lives despite limited activism.
“You think you are important? We are all nothing. You add so much importance to your life when you are nothing,” he said bluntly.
His message was clear: risk is unavoidable in Nigerian activism, and succumbing to fear only strengthens oppressive forces.
Public Reaction: Divided Views on Courage and Caution
This public clash sparked heated debate online.
Some sympathize with Adeyanju’s cautionary stance, viewing it as a necessary reminder of activism’s dangers in a volatile environment.
Others champion VeryDarkMan’s rejection of fear, celebrating his courage to speak truth to power regardless of threats.
Many see his rebuke of a trusted lawyer as both bold and controversial, raising questions about the role of legal counsel in activist circles.
A Rift with Potential Consequences
How to balance risk, safety, and impact remains a critical challenge.
The public airing of grievances may undermine their united front, leaving VeryDarkMan without the restraint or protection his lawyer sought to provide.
The lawyer-client conflict risks hampering advocacy efforts amid ongoing political tension.
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