Popular social media activist and influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has launched a fierce verbal attack on presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga following calls for his arrest over the circulation of an alleged fake audio linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
VDM, in a series of viral videos posted on X on Wednesday, reacted angrily to remarks made by Onanuga, who had earlier accused him of spreading false information and abusing social media platforms by sharing the controversial audio recording allegedly involving President Tinubu.
In the videos, the influencer directly addressed the presidential aide with harsh words, describing him as “a daft, stupid, old man” while ignoring accusations that he deliberately spread misinformation.
The outspoken activist insisted that he not discuss the trending issue already circulating online.
He accused government officials of attempting to intimidate critics and silence dissenting voices on social media.
“You people cannot bully everybody into silence,” VDM said during the emotional outburst, maintaining that public figures must also be prepared to face scrutiny in a democratic society.
The controversy began after Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, publicly called for legal action against VDM over the circulation of an alleged fake audio purportedly connected to the president.
“This VDM needs to face the weight of the law for being the conveyor and disseminator of a fake audio of President Tinubu.
“This is a clear case of an egregious abuse of the social media platform,” Onanuga had written in a post on X.
The exchange has since triggered widespread reactions across Nigerian social media, with supporters of the activist defending his right to comment on public issues.
Meanwhile, critics condemned the tone and language used against the presidential spokesman.
The authenticity of the controversial audio recording remains unverified, with some online users alleging it may have been manipulated or generated using artificial intelligence tools.
As of the time of filing this report, no official arrest warrant or criminal charges had been announced against VeryDarkMan by security agencies.
The latest clash further highlights growing tensions between government officials and influential social media personalities amid increasing debates over misinformation, free speech, and digital regulation in Nigeria.
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