Nigerian rapper Ruggedman has recently elaborated on his decision to withdraw support from the self-styled activist VeryDarkMan.
During a recent podcast interview with Echo Room, Ruggedman explained his initial backing of VeryDarkMan, which was motivated by the latter’s campaign to expose sellers of products lacking NAFDAC approval.
Ruggedman noted that he was initially impressed by VeryDarkMan’s efforts to bring attention to these regulatory breaches. However, his support waned as he observed a shift in VeryDarkMan’s approach.
The rapper expressed disappointment when VeryDarkMan began to delve into the personal lives of individuals, particularly targeting women.
The situation intensified when VeryDarkMan focused on public figures such as actress Iyabo Ojo and her daughter.
Ruggedman criticized this invasion of privacy, arguing that it crossed professional boundaries and undermined the original purpose of the activism.
Ruggedman highlighted that these actions not only detracted from the serious issues that VeryDarkMan aimed to address but also led to unnecessary conflicts.
He believes that such methods have ultimately compromised the integrity of VeryDarkMan’s mission.
In his words:
“I liked VeryDarkMan in the beginning when he started with the whole NAFDAC number thing but when he started going personal into people’s private lives, especially with women. That to me, he is just distracting himself.
“But it is like saying a policeman took a shooting which was his last resort as the first. They will tell you but if you’re a professional you are supposed to be used to it.
“So even if someone says something against you there is a way you should address it. Not your mama, your papa. You don’t catch me doing that but that’s me.
“His approach is what I don’t like anymore. He was calling out people that sell products without a NAFDAC number, that’s amazing but now what do you hear about him?
“Iyabo Ojo and her daughter kind of thing, that’s why I said it is his approach I’m not okay with. So any response he gets from them is probably what he said.
“I think what he said stemmed from what I think was Mohbad’s situation. Where he said the old retired actresses are trying to use the situation as clout. Everyone knows it was Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh.
“Now you can’t say something like that and don’t expect people to respond. So he started it. That’s what I meant by people’s private lives.”