VeryDarkMan protests at Wike’s house, holds mock class with kids over unpaid teachers’ wages.
He says the gate will serve as their school until government meets teachers’ demands.
Controversial social media personality Martins Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), held a protest on Monday in front of the Abuja residence of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The demonstration was organized in response to Wike’s recent announcement that he would suspend 10 percent of the statutory allocations meant for the area councils.
Wike made this decision after the councils failed to implement the newly approved minimum wage for primary school teachers. The ₦70,000 wage increase has yet to be implemented by the chairmen of the six area councils, prompting teachers to embark on an indefinite strike that began on March 24. In reaction, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has maintained its industrial action, keeping thousands of children out of school.
In a dramatic act of protest, VDM brought a group of schoolchildren to Wike’s residence, where they were seen wearing school uniforms and taking part in a mock class session outside the gate. During the session, VDM led the pupils in reciting letters of the alphabet, including politically charged phrases such as “S for Suegbe, T for Tinubu, W for Wike.” He stated that Wike’s front gate would now function as the children’s new classroom until the government addresses the teachers’ demands.
