Popular social media critic and influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has reacted angrily to a trending AI-generated audio allegedly linked to him, lashing out at presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga and accusing the government of ignoring worsening insecurity across the country.
The controversy followed a statement by the Presidency on Wednesday vowing to prosecute VDM for allegedly sharing a fake audio clip of President Bola Tinubu.
An X user identified as @Pious_minister had earlier claimed that an AI-generated voice mimicking Tinubu was used in one of VDM’s videos.
In the viral audio, the cloned voice allegedly suggested that insecurity in Nigeria would continue because Nigerians did not vote for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election.
Reacting on his verified X account, @aonanuga1956, Onanuga accused VDM of spreading false information capable of misleading the public and damaging the image of the President.
“This VDM needs to face the weight of the law for being the conveyor and disseminator of a fake audio of President Tinubu. This is a clear case of an egregious abuse of the social media platform,” Onanuga wrote.
He dismissed the audio as manipulated and warned that the spread of unverified content poses serious risks to public trust, national security and democratic stability.
According to him, individuals responsible for circulating such materials should be held accountable under the law.
In response, VeryDarkMan released a video on his social media platforms, where he strongly criticised the presidential aide and denied supporting the controversial audio clip.
“You are so stupid. I know say una don get me for mind and think say part of an agenda. You see this audio, I will not defend it. You no dey shame,” he said.
The influencer questioned why the Presidency appeared more concerned about the AI-generated audio than the recent abduction of teachers and schoolchildren in Oyo State.
“Now you can talk. Bandits went into a school in Oyo State, they carried three teachers, one man, two women, they carried students. One of the teachers was backing an infant child. Few days later, there was a report that one of the teachers was beheaded. Bayo Onanuga, where is your comment on that?” he asked.
“As I speak to you today, it is Children’s Day. Those children are still in an unknown location. I want to see wetin una wan do. It’s only stupid people that will believe that video.”
VDM further accused government officials of failing to prioritise the country’s worsening security crisis.
“President spokesman Bayo, you are a very stupid old man. I’m not trying to insult you, but look at the meaning of stupid. That’s what you represent. That is who you are,” he said.
He also stated that the actions of some officials within the current administration reinforced his belief that President Tinubu should not return to office in 2027.
“I swear to God, you are so daft, and this is the reason why I said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not come back in 2027 because all the people that operate under him don’t use their brains.”
The controversy has since generated a debate on social media, with lawyers analysing the situation, and some Netizens faulting Onanuga for being quick to attack VDM without a fact check of the audio.
