Outspoken social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has addressed ongoing criticisms from members of the public questioning why he frequently targets religious institutions and religious leaders in Nigeria.
In a recent video addressing his critics, VDM clarified that his criticism is not directed at the Christian faith or the Church as a body, but rather at how religious sentiments are being leveraged to suppress civic accountability across the country, according to him, political leaders and government institutions have routinely exploited religion as a pacifier to keep citizens submissive rather than demanding functional governance and basic social amenities.
Illustrating his argument, VDM noted that when security crises occur—such as bandit attacks in states like Benue and Plateau—citizens are encouraged to resort strictly to prayers for divine intervention rather than holding state authorities accountable for failing to secure lives and property.
He further questioned the trend where everyday socio-economic responsibilities, including job creation, healthcare management, and basic public infrastructure, are turned into prayer points in places of worship.
"Why are you praying for things the government is meant to provide?" VDM asked, reiterating that until Nigerians begin demanding direct accountability from political leaders instead of outsourcing governance failures to spirituality, societal progress will remain stagnant.
His remarks have sparked intense debate across social media platforms, with commentators divided between those supporting his call for civic awakening and those defending the role of faith in navigating national hardships.