VDM–Adeyanju Rift: Struggle Without a Team Is Just Theatre - Abioye Tosin Lawrence

 

......One man can spark change; only many can sustain it

The recent fallout between social critic Verydarkman (VDM) and his lawyer, Barrister Deji Adeyanju, has set social media abuzz. What was once a partnership in the trenches of public advocacy now appears fractured, as both men have unfollowed each other on Instagram.

This development, though seemingly a matter of personal differences, speaks to a larger truth about activism in Nigeria: no struggle can be sustained by one man alone. When movements hinge entirely on the charisma and relentlessness of a single figure, they become vulnerable to burnout, personal disputes, and the distractions of ego.

VDM’s rise to prominence has been marked by a fearless willingness to tackle a wide range of issues, from celebrity scandals to matters of public interest. But this approach, while commendable for its boldness, also reveals the limits of a “fight-all-fights” strategy. Without a united front, diverse skill sets, and clearly defined objectives, activism can drift from purposeful resistance into performative outrage.

History shows that lasting social change is built through coalitions, not lone crusaders. The Nigerian liberation story, whether political, economic, or social, will never be fully written by one person’s voice. It will require networks of principled advocates, each holding a piece of the line and sustaining the cause beyond the lifespan of any one personality.

The rift between VDM and Adeyanju should be a lesson to all who care about justice: when the struggle becomes about personalities rather than the cause, it stops being a movement and starts being a show.

-- Abioye Tosin Lawrence is the publisher of Oriontimes Online Newspaper and author of the upcoming memoir Voices from the Fire: My Journey Through a Hollow Empire.