President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, has responded to allegations linking him to the ongoing social media feud between influencers Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and Michelle Mukoro (King Mitchy).
In a statement shared on his Instagram story, Seyi Tinubu emphasized that no one could bully him, and he would not “dignify fiction with panic.” His remarks come amid heightened tension between VDM and King Mitchy, who are both involved in philanthropy work, including projects aimed at supporting local communities.
The feud reportedly escalated after King Mitchy, in her 20s, posted about a school renovation project she completed in Delta State within six days, attributing the support and donations for the project to Seyi Tinubu. This post sparked controversy when VDM suggested on social media that there was an improper relationship or undisclosed arrangement between Seyi Tinubu and King Mitchy, implying that her charitable projects were politically motivated.
To clarify, Seyi Tinubu stated that he had only met King Mitchy once and that his financial support of her NGO activities was consistent with his general practice of supporting young Nigerians and organizations working to empower citizens. He stressed that such support was neither a scandal nor illegal.
Seyi Tinubu expressed frustration that his name was being used in a conflict he was not part of. “For reasons best known to him, VDM appears to be seeking an opportunity to attack and attempt to harm my reputation and seized this situation to do so. I will not accept that,” he wrote. He added, “If my name generates attention, let us at least deal in facts. Supporting charitable causes is not a crime. Meeting someone publicly to support their NGO is not a scandal. Repeating falsehoods loudly does not make them true.”
The conflict intensified after King Mitchy posted a celebratory video of the school renovation project, emphasizing the speed and impact of the work. She stated, “I no ever see person with integrity explain every day say he/she get integrity. I do this for six days to show you how easy it be if you truly want to do something.” Although she did not mention anyone directly, many perceived the message as a subtle criticism, which prompted a sharp response from VDM. He accused her of being used as a “political pawn to launder the image of President Bola Tinubu’s administration” and claimed her education sector interventions were politically motivated. VDM also tagged Seyi Tinubu in one of his posts, suggesting the current administration had underperformed in education.
The situation escalated further on Saturday morning when a statement allegedly from King Mitchy’s management appeared on her social media page, claiming her life was in danger. The statement read:
“We dey deeply heartbroken to share say our beloved Michele don pass on. Despite all the efforts of the medical team here for Abuja, dem tell us say her condition dey critical and sadly dem no fit revive her. If you no Prime hospital for Abuja, beg dem to do sometin to save her. Her mother don faint for Lagos already and dem don carry her go hospital.”
At the time of reporting, the claims about her passing have not been confirmed by family members or relevant authorities, leaving the situation unclear.
This ongoing feud highlights the complex intersection of social media influence, philanthropy, and political narratives in Nigeria. What began as a school renovation project has escalated into a national conversation involving alleged political undertones, online bullying, and public speculation over the safety of a young influencer.
Seyi Tinubu’s statement underscores his position that supporting charitable causes should not be politicized or misrepresented, while the reports surrounding King Mitchy’s health remain unverified.