16th August, 2024
By Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi
Popular Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, known professionally as Ruggedman, has shared the reasons behind his decision to stop supporting the controversial activist VeryDarkMan.
In the latest episode of the Echoo Room podcast, Ruggedman explained that he withdrew his support when VeryDarkMan began to intrude into people’s personal lives.
He expressed that VeryDarkMan’s activism has become increasingly illogical.
“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. That to me, he is just distracting himself,” Ruggedman said.
“But it is like saying a policeman took a shooting which was his last resort as the first. They will tell you but if you’re a professional you are supposed to be used to it.
“So even if someone says something against you there is a way you should address it. Not your mama, your papa. You don’t catch me doing that but that’s me.
“His approach is what I don’t like anymore. He was calling out people that sell products without a NAFDAC number, that’s amazing but now what do you hear about him?
Ruggedman criticized VeryDarkMan’s current approach, noting that while his earlier activism was commendable, his recent focus on individuals like Iyabo Ojo and her daughter has been problematic.
He suggested that VeryDarkMan’s current tactics are a distraction and have led to unnecessary conflict.
“Iyabo Ojo and her daughter kind of thing, that’s why I said it is his approach I’m not okay with. So any response he gets from them is probably what he said.
“I think what he said stemmed from what I think was Mohbad’s situation. Where he said the old retired actresses are trying to use the situation as clout. Everyone knows it was Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh.
“Now you can’t say something like that and don’t expect people to respond. So he started it. That’s what I meant by people’s private lives.”
