“…When you are a revolutionary and you speak the truth, people will come and slap you down.” – Fela Kuti
In the spirit of justice and equality as well as the relentless pursuit of truth, the Movement for the Rights of Arogbo-Ibe (MRAI) has declared unwavering support for the social commentator and activist VeryDarkMan, who continues to face systemic pushback and arbitrary arrests for boldly speaking truth to power.
Quoting the late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, MRAI draws attention to the historical reality that revolutionaries are often vilified and attacked for daring to challenge oppressive structures. Fela’s words, the group said, remain a chilling reflection of the present Nigerian experience; especially for bold truth-tellers like VeryDarkMan
Hosea T. Ebikontei, Coordinator of MRAI, emphatic in a statement:
“The Movement for the Rights of Arogbo-Ibe recognizes the pain and persecution truth-speakers often endure. As an advocacy body for justice and self-determination, we cannot be silent when voices like VeryDarkMan’s are threatened. His fight is also our fight.”
Corroborating this stance, Bomi Stanley, Secretary of the Movement, added:
“It is no longer enough to watch from the sidelines. The voice of conscience must never be muffled. VeryDarkMan represents a generation that refuses to bow to intimidation. MRAI will always stand on the side of truth.”
In a strongly worded condemnation, MRAI called out the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its unjustified arrest and continued silence on the real reasons behind VeryDarkMan’s detention. The Movement questioned why the anti-graft agency, whose mandate is to combat financial crimes, has resorted to intimidating dissenting voices instead of upholding transparency and due process.
“The EFCC has a duty to Nigerians – not to intimidate citizens but to uphold justice. The continued harassment of VeryDarkMan without clear charges is a betrayal of constitutional values,” MRAI said.
The Movement reiterated its view that silence in the face of injustice is complicity. For a region like Arogbo-Ibe that has endured decades of marginalisation and misrepresentation, standing with courageous voices aligns perfectly with the organisation’s foundational principles.
MRAI also used the occasion to call on all freedom-loving Nigerians, human rights groups, and youth advocates to lend their voices in support of VeryDarkMan and others facing persecution for speaking the truth. The organisation warned against the growing culture of criminalising free expression and urged the EFCC to focus on its statutory responsibilities rather than becoming a political tool of suppression.
“Let history remember that we did not keep quiet,” the group concluded.
