Social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has reacted strongly to an alleged AI-generated video linked to him, accusing the Presidency of prioritising online criticism over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
The controversy began after the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, called for VDM’s prosecution over claims that he circulated a fake audio recording allegedly imitating President Bola Tinubu.
An 𝕏 user, @Pious_minister, had earlier alleged that the viral audio was AI-generated and used in one of VDM’s posts. In the clip, the voice purportedly attributed to President Tinubu suggested that insecurity in Nigeria would persist because some citizens did not vote for him in the 2023 election.
Onanuga described the circulation of the audio as irresponsible and an abuse of social media, insisting that the activist should face legal consequences.
Responding in a video shared online, VeryDarkMan said he would not defend the controversial audio but criticised the Presidency’s response, arguing that more urgent attention should be given to recent insecurity incidents, including the abduction of teachers and students in Oyo State.
He alleged that one of the kidnapped teachers had been killed while others remain missing, lamenting that the government appeared more focused on silencing critics than rescuing victims.
VeryDarkMan also questioned the silence of presidential officials on the matter, saying:
“President spokesman Bayo, you are a very stupid old man… You are so daft… This is why I said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not come back in 2027…”
He further accused the government of neglecting insecurity while reacting aggressively to social media content, insisting that only “stupid people” would believe the disputed audio.