Nigerian social activist Martin Otse, also known as Verydarkman (VDM), has spoken out after losing out on an award at the recent Trendupp Awards, held on July 7.
VDM was in the spotlight, having been nominated for the prestigious ‘Force of Social Good’ category alongside notable figures like Aproko Doctor, Kokun Foundation, and Tunde Onakoya.
Despite high hopes and strong support from his fans, VDM fell short of winning the award. Tunde Onakoya, recognized for his groundbreaking Chess in the Slum initiative and his recent Guinness World Record of 58 hours of uninterrupted chess, took home the prize.
The aftermath has been nothing short of explosive.
Outraged VDM supporters are crying foul, alleging he was robbed of a well-deserved victory.
His critics wasted no time seizing the opportunity to mock him mercilessly in the wake of his award loss.
In response, Verydarkman released a defiant video, radiating an air of nonchalance about the entire debacle.
He made it clear that his tireless fight against injustice on social media is driven purely by passion and a commitment to change, not by the desire for accolades from any award organizers.
Verydarkman candidly revealed that he’s far too occupied with his activism to attend any award ceremonies, even stating that he wasn’t aware of his nomination in the first place.
He recounted the last time he received an award invitation from Silverbird. In a move that underscored his principles, he stated that he turned them down flat when they refused to meet his demand for payment.
Watch the video below;
Verydarkman finally shares his thoughts on losing activism award to Chess Master Tunde Onakoya pic.twitter.com/syE1wRIIEa— Gistlover (@GistLovers) July 11, 2024