Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has hit back at critics of his guest appearance at the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, describing law as one of the poorest professions in Nigeria despite its reputation for prestige.
VDM was invited to the conference to join a panel discussion on insecurity, where he spoke on the security challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians. His participation drew swift criticism from sections of the legal community, with some lawyers questioning why he had been invited to address the gathering at all.
Responding in a video shared on social media on Friday, VDM said his appearance was meant to give voice to Nigerians who are typically excluded from such conversations.”I spoke on behalf of the poor people. I spoke on behalf of the people that don’t have a voice,” he said, adding that some critics were simply uncomfortable with an outsider’s presence: “Because a son of nobody was seen in your midst.”He then turned his fire on the profession itself, rejecting the notion that law remains a “noble profession” in Nigeria today. “This bunch of clowns are telling me that law is a noble profession. Well, lately, law has not been a noble profession. I’m sorry to say. I’m not even sorry to say. It is what it is,” he said.
VDM argued that despite its prestige, the legal profession offers poor economic prospects for many of its graduates, noting that a large number of trained lawyers in the country are either unemployed or unable to practise.”Law is one of the most broke professions we have in the country. Because we never talk about it. Law is one of the most broke professions. One of the poorest professions in this country is law,” he said, challenging critics to consider how many lawyers actually hold jobs or appear in court.
He also took aim at the Nigerian Law School’s continued output of graduates despite what he described as a shrinking pool of opportunities in the field, claiming that many end up in unrelated trades after graduation.
The controversy over VDM’s appearance is the latest flashpoint involving the outspoken social media influencer, whose interventions on social and legal issues have repeatedly put him at odds with segments of Nigeria’s professional and political establishment.
