Controversial social media critic and activist, Martin Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has fired back at Dr. Reuben Abati, anchor of Arise News Channel’s breakfast show, for comparing him to street-pop singer Portable in his commentary on VDM’s recent activism against human trafficking.
During a recent episode of the Morning Show on Arise TV, Dr. Abati made a remark likening VDM’s passionate approach to raising awareness about trafficked Nigerian girls to Portable’s chaotic energy on social media.
“About VeryDarkMan, Martin Otse, I appreciate his enthusiasm. It’s almost like Portable getting excited over many things. That’s Habeeb Okikiola, who now says he wants to fight Anthony Joshua,” Abati said, sparking outrage from the online activist.
In a fiery video response, VeryDarkMan accused Abati of hypocrisy and moral inconsistency, saying the journalist had no right to mock his efforts.
“You think you have the moral ground to water down my efforts by comparing me to Portable? Is this not you in EFCC custody?” he said, displaying an old photo of Abati allegedly taken during his time in the EFCC’s custody in 2016.
VDM referenced Abati’s reported arrest during the investigation into the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal tied to the Office of the National Security Adviser under Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
“The EFCC can never pick me for fraud. Even the Portable you try to pair me with, they can never pick him for fraud,” he added.
But VDM didn’t stop there. He accused Abati of tribal bias, referencing a 2022 incident involving Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM). Dabiri-Erewa had come under fire for calling a social media user an “Ode” (a Yoruba term meaning fool) while defending Nigerian students attacked in India.
VDM called out Abati for allegedly defending Dabiri-Erewa’s choice of words, saying:
“You defended her, because she’s Yoruba. That’s why I’m responding to you now.”
He even questioned Abati’s academic credentials in frustration:
“I no know how you take get ‘Dr.’ on your name.”
In closing, VDM dared the Arise TV anchor to host him for an open conversation:
“If you want to talk about me, invite me to your station. Let’s talk about you too—about what you allegedly did with the money. Reuben Abathief—sorry, Abati—continue kissing ass.”
