It was not until a few weeks ago that I started hearing about a social media user called VERY DARK MAN (VDM). You may choose to argue and disagree with his style of activism and campaigning methods, but what nobody can take away is the results. I believe in results. I choose to call his style of activism, DISRUPTION.
What are the results? Just because of VDM’s single tweet, law enforcement agencies are running helter-skelter, issuing press statements, launching internal investigations, suspending senior officers, disciplining erring officials, reviewing court judgements, revisiting procedural gaps and so forth. We are also beginning to see the roles ordained ministers in the temple of justice play behind the scenes to upend the wheels of accountability. Threats of lawsuits and counter lawsuits are flying around… plus too much gra-gra without bite. All it took was a single tweet. I dare say that it will take about 500 NGOs about 5-10 years and over 1 million USD in grants to achieve the same results.
Our society needs disruption and disruptors like VDM. I am one of those who believe that activism (globally) is losing vibrancy, momentum and efficacy because it has transformed into an economic venture and dabbled too much into classism. What makes it worse is the latter-day shift towards constructive criticism. When politicians steal electoral victory at the polls, they don’t do it constructively. When corrupt judges dash election losers victory through the courts, they don’t do it constructively. When lawmakers approve bullet proof jeeps for themselves amid widespread poverty, they don’t do it constructively. But when activists need to demand accountability, they insist on constructive criticism and berate fellow colleagues that chose different advocacy methods. I think the the activist community should be celebrating VDM for his bravery and courageous exploits at this time, and borrow a leaf or two from him.
We need more VDMs to shake up and disrupt the system. Activism has become too comfortable in Nigeria and the results are too scanty considering the explosion of organizations working on diverse social justice issues. In the 90s, fewer organizations achieved so much more. It’s time to rethink activism and find the VDMs around us. Let’s encourage them to do more.
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