Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has responded to criticism from human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, over his invitation to speak at the Nigerian Bar Association's annual conference in Port Harcourt. Otse, in a video shared on his social media page, said Falana's comments had reinforced his belief that opposition to his invitation was largely driven by his background and social status. He described the criticism as "classism".
Falana had questioned the NBA's decision to invite Otse to speak on specialised issues such as national security, arguing that speakers addressing lawyers on such subjects should have relevant expertise or experience. He made the comments during an interview with Channels Television. Otse, however, maintained that his contribution to the discussion was based on his personal experiences with insecurity rather than academic qualifications.
Otse argued that he had witnessed situations that many security experts had not experienced and therefore had something valuable to contribute to the conversation. "Lately in the last few years, I have been present where all these things have happened. I have seen things that a lot of security experts have not seen. This is not about book. It's about experience," he said.
The activist also rejected the suggestion that security discussions should be restricted to experts within the formal security architecture, saying insecurity affects ordinary Nigerians regardless of their social status or profession. According to Otse, his participation at the conference was intended to give voice to Nigerians who live with the consequences of insecurity but rarely get the opportunity to speak before influential audiences.
Otse said he was surprised by Falana's criticism, noting that he had not expected the respected lawyer to oppose his invitation. He, however, maintained that he was entitled to share his perspective based on his experiences. The controversy followed Otse's appearance at the NBA's 66th Annual General Conference, where he participated in a discussion on insecurity.
Falana, while acknowledging the importance of hearing from members of the public, maintained that specialised discussions on national security should also feature people with direct knowledge of Nigeria's security architecture. Otse, on the other hand, emphasised that his experiences as an ordinary Nigerian had given him a unique perspective on the issue of insecurity.
The incident highlights the ongoing debate about who should be invited to speak on sensitive topics such as national security. Otse's invitation to the NBA conference was seen as a departure from the norm, and his response to Falana's criticism suggests that he is determined to make his voice heard.
Key points
- Martins Otse was invited to speak at the Nigerian Bar Association's annual conference in Port Harcourt.
- Femi Falana questioned the NBA's decision to invite Otse, citing a lack of relevant expertise.
- Otse maintained that his experiences with insecurity gave him a valuable perspective to share.
