Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has defended his invitation to speak at the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference, saying his contribution to discussions on insecurity was based on personal experience rather than academic knowledge.
Otse was reacting to comments by human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, who questioned the decision of the NBA to invite him to speak on specialised issues such as national security.
In a video shared on his social media page on Friday, Otse described the criticism as a reflection of classism, suggesting that his background and social status were part of the reason some people objected to his participation at the conference.
He said, “The problem these people have is that the son of a nobody was invited to come and speak where elites are seated.”
According to the activist, his experiences in dealing with insecurity over the years gave him a perspective that could contribute meaningfully to discussions on the issue.
He said he had witnessed situations that some security experts might not have personally experienced, stressing that his contribution was not based solely on academic knowledge.
“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 not about book. It’s about experience,” Otse said.
He argued that insecurity affects everyone, particularly ordinary Nigerians who often bear the brunt of crime and violence.
“Security is for everybody. Security is not for some set of people. And this has been the problem,” he said.
Otse added that his appearance at the conference was an opportunity to draw attention to the experiences of Nigerians who, according to him, often lack the platform to speak about the insecurity affecting their communities.
“I spoke on behalf of the poor masses. I spoke on behalf of the poor people. I spoke on behalf of the people that don’t have a voice,” he said.
He said he was surprised by Falana’s position, noting that he had not expected the senior lawyer to question his participation at the conference.
“I wasn’t expecting this angle from Femi Falana SAN, but well, it is what it is,” Otse added.
Falana had earlier criticised the NBA’s decision to invite Otse as a speaker, arguing that individuals addressing lawyers on specialised subjects should possess relevant expertise or experience in the areas being discussed.
Speaking during an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, Falana said previous NBA conferences had featured professionals whose knowledge and experience provided participants with useful insights into specialised subjects.
He specifically argued that discussions on national security should involve individuals with direct knowledge of, or experience within, the country’s security architecture.
Falana, however, acknowledged the importance of hearing from ordinary members of the public, particularly on issues that affect justice delivery.
Otse’s response followed his appearance at the NBA’s annual conference in Port Harcourt, where he participated in a discussion centred on insecurity in Nigeria.
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