The establishment of most Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) I’ve read often starts with the personal funds of founders who believe in a cause that can transform their immediate environment. Typically, over time, they begin to receive financial support from private organizations, both local and international, after proving their transparency and accountability.
However, controversial social media influencer and anti-corruption activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has defied this norm by seeking financial support for his NGO from day one. According to him, he raised over ₦33 million in donations within 24 hours of launching his fundraising campaign.
People donated because they believed in his cause, with contributions as small as ₦72. VDM promised transparency in the use of the funds, stating during the launch on Instagram, on Saturday, October 12, 2024, “If you believe this will bring change, please support it.”
While I don’t have an issue with his efforts to better society as he promised that the funds would be used to support the disadvantaged and improve public utility for average Nigerians, two things are involved when an anti-corruption crusader publicly seeks financial support for a cause.
First, by doing so, you open the door for the same financially corrupt individuals you are fighting to infiltrate your movement, disguising themselves as supporters.
Second, with the launch of VDM’s NGO, I suspect he may have ulterior motives—political ones. That’s not a problem par say, but how has activists that preceeded him performed when they get into office?
He wouldn’t be the first Nigerian activist to use advocacy as a platform to seek political office. Often, when these activists lose in elections, they fade into obscurity.
In rare cases where they win or get appointed to political office, they often blend into the existing system, making policies that impoverish their people while indulging in flamboyant and reckless spending.
A case in point is the current Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, born on July 20, 1977, and co-founder of CcHUB, a technology innovation center.
Before his appointment, he was an advocate for good governance, always siding with the average Nigerian. His frustration with the system was evident in a tweet where he referred to members of Nigeria’s Senate as “morons.”
In another tweet from July 21, 2019, he expressed his dissatisfaction with Nigeria, saying he didn’t value the Nigerian passport or the country itself.
Despite his activism and technological ideas, a year into his appointment, many Nigerians feel he hasn’t stood out in terms of service delivery. They claim he has become like the politicians he once criticized, when he claimed on a TV interview on Channels TV on August 2, 2024, that the Bola Tinubu government was the best he has seen in his adult life.
Another example is Harrison Gwamnishu, a vocal activist who exposed misconduct, bribery, and theft within the Nigeria Police. His work earned him widespread admiration, with many believing he was part of a new generation of change-makers.
However, after contesting for a seat in the Delta State House of Assembly under the Labour Party during the 2023 general elections—and losing—Harrison seemed to lose his voice.
His supporters claim he was rigged out, but instead of returning to activism, unconfirmed reports suggest he accepted a role as a Senior Special Adviser to a prominent South-South politician.
VDM should clearly define his goals.
Should Activists Join Politics?
Activism should indeed be a path to political liberation. Activists can use their influence to push for societal change, and joining active politics can be a logical next step.
Former Minister of Solid Minerals (November 11, 2015 – May 30, 2018) and Governor of Ekiti State (October 16, 2010 – October 16, 2014 and October 16 2018 October 16, 2022), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, once stated at the University of Texas, Austin, that transitioning from activism to politics is one of the quickest ways to create radical societal change.
Yet, Fayemi, a visiting Professor at the African Leadership Centre at King’s College London, who was an activist after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 elections, didn’t perform any better than his colleagues when he served as a minister and governor of Ekiti State.
While there’s nothing inherently wrong with moving from activism to politics, history shows that almost all activists in Nigeria’s political landscape have failed to deliver exceptional results.
If Martins Vincent Otse, aka VDM, is using activism as a stepping stone into politics, he should be aware that public scrutiny of him will intensify, especially as he’s already receiving public donations for his yet-to-be-named NGO.
How he manages these funds will be the first major test of his character and intentions.
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