The video by social media activist VeryDarkMan, in which he harshly criticizes President Bola Tinubu, has ignited a wave of outrage and mixed reactions across Nigeria.
In the controversial clip, VeryDarkMan (VDM) claims that many Nigerians would have preferred President Tinubu to have died instead of the late former president Muhammadu Buhari, citing worsening economic hardship under Tinubu’s administration.
“President Tinubu, Nigerians actually wish you were the one that died, and that you should be the next. If you die, what they will do to you will be worse than what they’ve done to Buhari… You will not rest in peace,” he said in the now-viral video.
VDM Slams Tinubu’s Economic Policies
VDM further claimed that Nigerians are suffering more now than during Buhari’s tenure, stating that even those who once criticized Buhari are beginning to miss him due to what he called “double hardship” under Tinubu’s leadership.
“Nobody is saying anything good about you. Your regime is so bad that people don’t want to associate with you. You still have time to fix things, or you’ll go down in history as Nigeria’s worst president,” he added.
Public Reactions: Free Speech or Hate Speech?
The video has sparked intense debate online:
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Supporters of VDM say he is voicing the frustrations of ordinary Nigerians struggling with inflation, high fuel prices, and the rising cost of living.
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Critics, however, have condemned the video as hate speech, arguing that it crosses a line by wishing death on a sitting president and threatening national unity.
Potential Legal Consequences?
Given Nigeria’s laws on defamation, cyberbullying, and incitement, legal analysts warn that VeryDarkMan could face prosecution if authorities consider his statements a threat to public peace or a violation of the Cybercrimes Act.
As of now, the presidency has not responded officially, and VDM has not taken the video down.
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