“Son of a Nobody”: VeryDarkMan Fires Back at Falana, Defends NBA Conference Invite

“Son of a Nobody”: VeryDarkMan Fires Back at Falana, Defends NBA Conference Invite

Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM) , has launched a blistering counter-attack against human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, over criticism of his invitation to speak at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference. VDM accused Falana and other critics of “classism,” arguing that his background as the “son of a nobody” is the real reason his participation at the elite legal gathering drew backlash.

The controversy erupted after Falana, in an interview with Channels Television, questioned the NBA‘s decision to invite VDM as a panelist for a session on insecurity at its 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt. Falana stated that past NBA conferences were not “circus shows” and that discussions on national security should feature individuals with demonstrable professional experience in the country’s security architecture. “Why would you just go and bring somebody from nowhere to come and entertain you? There are problems with that,” Falana remarked, arguing that the conference should return to its intellectual tradition.

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In a video posted on Friday, VDM expressed deep disappointment with Falana’s comments but stated they revealed the true reason behind the opposition to his invitation. “The problem these people have is that the son of a nobody was invited to come and speak where elites are seated,” VDM said. He described the criticism as a clear manifestation of “classism” from a section of the legal elite who are uncomfortable with his social status.

Countering Falana’s argument on expertise, VDM insisted that his firsthand experiences with insecurity in Nigeria are a valid qualification. “This is not about book. It’s about experience,” he said. “I have seen things that a lot of security experts have not seen.” The activist further maintained that security is a universal concern and should not be treated as an exclusive topic for professionals. He stated that his presence at the conference was to give a voice to ordinary Nigerians who are often voiceless in such elite conversations. “I spoke on behalf of the poor masses. I spoke on behalf of the people that don’t have a voice,” VDM said.

VDM had appeared as a panelist at the NBA conference on Tuesday in a session titled “Known Gunmen or Unknown Gunmen.” During the session, he alleged that some police officers at checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and pass information to kidnappers, facilitating abductions. The Nigeria Police Force has since invited VDM to substantiate his claims with evidence. VDM concluded by admitting he hadn’t anticipated Falana’s stance, saying, “I wasn’t expecting this angle from Femi Falana SAN, but well, it is what it is.”

“Son of a Nobody”: VeryDarkMan Fires Back at Falana, Defends NBA Conference Invite