NCSCN faults VDM, King Mitchy over Seyi Tinubu donation saga

The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has waded into the raging social media controversy between popular activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and content creator Mitchelle Mukoro, popularly called King Mitchy, describing the development as “socially toxic” and potentially harmful to national cohesion and mental health. Addressing journalists at a press […]

The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has waded into the raging social media controversy between popular activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and content creator Mitchelle Mukoro, popularly called King Mitchy, describing the development as “socially toxic” and potentially harmful to national cohesion and mental health.

Addressing journalists at a press conference in Abuja, the Council said it was compelled to intervene due to the political dimension the dispute has assumed, particularly following allegations surrounding humanitarian donations made by Seyi Tinubu, son of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Executive Director of NCSCN, Blessing Akinlosotu, noted that while the Council would ordinarily treat the issue as a private dispute, the involvement of high-profile individuals and the “destructive content” being circulated online necessitated urgent action.

“Normally, the Civil Society Council would have simply ignored and viewed this as inter-personal dispute if not for the dimension now taken and calibre of individuals, coupled with socio-psychological implications and destructive impacts of these contents being created,” Akinlosotu said.

According to the Council, its findings indicate that the crisis escalated after King Mitchy disclosed that her humanitarian activities received financial support running into millions of naira from Seyi Tinubu.

The statement alleged that VDM subsequently shifted the focus of the disagreement to the President’s son, “casting so much aspersions and using very vulgar and offensive languages.”

“In our collective opinion, the Very Dark Man completely erred in dragging Seyi Tinubu’s name into the matter as he did and was the one initiating crisis here, for reasons best known to him,” the Council declared.

The NCSCN further questioned what it described as the “undue emphasis” placed on Seyi Tinubu’s donation, noting that other prominent Nigerians — including music executive Don Jazzy — had also supported King Mitchy’s initiatives without attracting similar criticism.

“Why leave others to attack Seyi Tinubu? And what is really wrong in a businessman or son of a President supporting a humanitarian cause?” the Council queried.

While condemning VDM’s conduct, the Council also faulted King Mitchy for what it termed “immaturity and lack of emotional intelligence,” particularly over a viral video allegedly showing her consuming a poisonous substance during the height of the online feud.

The Council described the act — and a subsequent mocking response video allegedly posted by VDM — as “totally anti-social, damaging to mental health and promoting suicide.”

“VDM and King Mitchy are ignorantly encouraging suicide in society and showcasing poisonous substances to use in achieving such deadly and devilish thoughts, which the Council stands boldly to condemn in its totality,” Akinlosotu said.

The Council maintained that there is nothing inherently wrong with individuals — whether politically exposed or not — supporting non-governmental organisations or humanitarian causes.

“As a non-partisan Special Interest Group, the Council finds no fault in financial donation made by anyone, whether governmental or non-governmental, to King Mitchy or Very Dark Man,” the statement read.

It warned that sustained attacks on donors could discourage philanthropic gestures in the country.