Why I Stopped Supporting VeryDarkMan – Ruggedman
Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has revealed why he stopped supporting the controversial activist known as VeryDarkMan. During a recent episode of the Echoo Room podcast, Ruggedman shared his concerns about the activist’s increasingly invasive approach to advocacy, particularly his focus on personal attacks.
Ruggedman explained that he initially supported VeryDarkMan when the activist was highlighting important issues, such as exposing products without NAFDAC numbers. However, his stance changed when VeryDarkMan began delving into the private lives of individuals, especially women, which Ruggedman believes detracts from the activist’s original mission.
“I appreciated what he was doing at first, especially with the NAFDAC number campaign. But when he started getting personal and targeting people’s private lives, that’s when I had to pull back,” Ruggedman said. “It’s like a professional taking an extreme measure when it’s not necessary. There are better ways to address issues without resorting to personal attacks.”
Ruggedman specifically mentioned VeryDarkMan’s recent controversies involving Nollywood actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh, suggesting that the activist’s comments were inappropriate and invited backlash. “He made claims about retired actresses using a tragic situation for clout, and it’s no surprise they responded. He crossed into personal territory, and that’s not something I can stand behind.”
The rapper emphasized that while activism is important, the methods used should be constructive and respectful, noting that VeryDarkMan’s approach has become problematic in his view.
