Ruggedman Explains Why He Withdrew Support for VeryDarkMan

• Nigerian rapper Ruggedman explains his decision to withdraw support from activist VeryDarkMan, citing concerns about VeryDarkMan’s shift to intruding into personal lives.
• Ruggedman initially supported VeryDarkMan’s campaign against unapproved products but became disillusioned as the activist’s methods became more intrusive.
• The rapper criticized VeryDarkMan’s approach, likening it to a police officer using extreme measures prematurely and suggested there are more professional ways to address issues.
• Ruggedman expressed disappointment with VeryDarkMan’s recent focus on personal attacks, particularly against women, and his comments about celebrities, which he believes diverted from the activist’s original purpose.

Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, better known as Ruggedman, has publicly clarified his reasons for withdrawing support from the controversial activist VeryDarkMan.

Speaking on a recent episode of the Echoo Room podcast, Ruggedman detailed how his admiration for VeryDarkMan’s activism began to wane as the activist’s methods evolved.

Initially, Ruggedman supported VeryDarkMan for his efforts to hold businesses accountable for selling products without proper NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) approval.

However, his support dwindled as he observed a shift in VeryDarkMan’s approach, which increasingly involved delving into individuals’ personal lives.

Ruggedman expressed discomfort with VeryDarkMan’s new tactics, comparing them to a police officer resorting to extreme measures prematurely. He criticized the activist for crossing professional boundaries and becoming overly intrusive, which he believes detracted from the original mission.

“I liked VeryDarkMan in the beginning when he started with the whole NAFDAC number thing, but when he started going personal into people’s private lives, especially with women, to me, he is just distracting himself,” Ruggedman said.

He elaborated that while addressing issues with the right approach is essential, VeryDarkMan’s recent focus on personal attacks and sensationalism was not aligned with the professional standards he values.

Ruggedman also noted that the activist’s commentary on issues involving celebrities, such as Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh, and the publicized Mohbad situation, further fueled his disillusionment.

He felt that VeryDarkMan’s approach had shifted from constructive criticism to personal vendettas, which he viewed as a significant departure from his original purpose.