Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has defended his invitation to speak at the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference, saying his contribution to discussions on insecurity was based on firsthand experience rather than academic qualifications.
Otse was responding to criticism from human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, who questioned the decision to invite him to speak on specialised issues such as national security at the conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Falana had argued that speakers addressing lawyers on specialised subjects should possess relevant professional expertise or direct experience in the areas being discussed. He said national security discussions should involve people with knowledge of the country's security architecture or direct experience as victims of insecurity.
Reacting in a video shared on his social media page on Friday, VeryDarkMan said he believed the criticism reflected classism and suggested that some people were uncomfortable because someone from a less privileged background had been invited to speak before an audience of professionals and elites.
He argued that his experiences over the past few years had exposed him to aspects of insecurity that some security experts might not have witnessed firsthand.
According to him, his contribution was not based on what he had learnt from books but on what he had personally seen while visiting communities affected by killings, attacks and other forms of insecurity.
Otse said the issue of security affected every Nigerian and should not be restricted to professionals or people within the security establishment.
He also said his participation at the conference provided an opportunity to speak for ordinary Nigerians who, in his view, lacked the platform to make their experiences known.
“I spoke on behalf of the poor people. I spoke on behalf of the people that don’t have a voice,” he said.
VeryDarkMan had participated in a panel session titled “Known Gunmen or Unknown Gunmen” at the NBA conference, where he discussed his experiences covering insecurity and visiting communities affected by violence.
His appearance generated debate among lawyers and members of the public, with some defending the NBA's decision and others questioning whether a social media activist was an appropriate speaker for a professional conference.
Falana's criticism subsequently added to the debate, particularly because of the distinction between professional expertise and lived experience.
While Falana maintained that specialised discussions require speakers with relevant expertise, VeryDarkMan argued that firsthand experience should also be recognised when discussing issues that directly affect the public.
The disagreement has therefore highlighted a broader debate over who should be given a platform to discuss national issues, particularly subjects such as insecurity that affect both professionals and ordinary citizens.
VeryDarkMan said he was surprised by Falana's position, noting that he had expected a different response from the respected human rights lawyer.
The activist maintained that his role at the conference was not to teach lawyers about legal principles but to share what he had observed and experienced while documenting insecurity in Nigeria.
The controversy has also drawn attention to the changing nature of public discourse, where social media personalities increasingly participate in discussions traditionally dominated by academics, lawyers, security experts and other professionals.
For now, the NBA has not indicated that it will withdraw its decision to invite VeryDarkMan to the conference. His appearance has instead generated a wider conversation about professional expertise, lived experience and the inclusion of different voices in national discussions.
The disagreement between VeryDarkMan and Falana remains a matter of public debate, with both sides presenting different views on what should qualify an individual to contribute to discussions on national security.
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