The rift between Davido and social media activist VeryDarkMan (VDM) has moved to a new stage, with the two reportedly unfollowing each other on Instagram.

What happened

Checks on Saturday, 31 October 2026, reportedly showed that Davido, who has more than 31 million followers, had removed VDM from his following list, and that VDM, who has more than 3 million followers, had done the same. Neither appears to have blocked the other, and neither has publicly explained the move.

The build-up

The two were once close allies, but their friendship broke down earlier this year. This week, VDM's friend Kokopee said he had tried to bring them back together and that VDM felt betrayed by the singer. Davido responded with a 'cap' emoji, suggesting he disputed the account. He also congratulated rapper Zlatan Ibile on 'Inferno', a chart-topping song widely seen as a jab at VDM.

VDM's court case

Separately, VDM announced that a criminal case brought against him by the police had been struck out, and he shared his excitement about the ruling.

How people reacted

Fans were divided. Some praised Davido for cutting ties, while others criticised him and urged him to support VDM's charity work instead. Many said the unfollow confirmed that a reconciliation was unlikely for now.

Daniel Regha has weighed in on VeryDarkMan's growing RATEL business, writing on X that VDM had gone "from activist, to NGO business, to CEO" and "from criticizing business owners to joining the same businesses to make profit."

His post drew mixed reactions. One user replied that anyone who has not yet understood VDM is to be pitied, while another asked what VDM is supposed to do with the money he makes from social media: give it all away and own nothing because he is an activist?

Influence without a business

Sometimes one wonders whether Daniel Regha sees the business opportunities sitting right in front of him. For someone who commands so much attention on X, sparks conversations almost daily and has built a considerable following, you would expect him to have turned that influence into something financially rewarding by now.

Perhaps the fear of what people will say is holding him back.

You are only a tenant

Many influencers forget that they do not own these platforms. They are simply tenants. Facebook, X, TikTok and Instagram can suspend an account, restrict its reach or change their policies overnight, and years of gathering followers could suddenly amount to very little.

What VDM seems to understand

VeryDarkMan appears to understand something many influencers have yet to figure out: popularity has an expiry date. The same people cheering you today may move on to another personality tomorrow.

Instead of depending entirely on public attention, he is gradually converting his influence into a business. He is introducing products, building a customer base and creating something that could keep generating income long after the social media excitement fades. That is smart thinking.

People will always talk

Imagine spending years building an audience of hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of people, only to have nothing financially sustainable to show for it.

If you have the audience, build a business. Sell products, offer services, create something valuable and earn legitimate money from the influence you have worked hard to establish. If you sell something, people will criticise you. If you remain broke, those same people will still have something to say. The people whose opinions you fear will not come together to pay your rent, feed your family or settle your bills.

The real question

The advice to Daniel Regha and other social media personalities is simple: stop treating online popularity as a lifetime achievement, and find a way to turn that attention into lasting value. VDM may have his critics, but his decision to venture into business deserves recognition.

Because when the followers stop cheering and the cameras stop rolling, the real question will be: what did you build with all that influence?

What do you think? Should influencers concentrate on entertaining their followers, or should they use their popularity to build businesses?

VeryDarkMan (VDM) and his RATEL brand have reportedly recorded about ₦90 million in sales in just one day, a figure that has set social media talking about how far the activist-turned-businessman could go.

The claim followed a post showing VDM in RATEL Power branded safety gear, holding up his phone, alongside a screenshot of bank alerts. The alerts, all dated 31 October 2026, show several customer payments for RATEL products, including a 600-watt power station, with the account balance climbing above ₦83 million.

From critic to businessman

VDM first became widely known for his social media videos and for publicly challenging powerful figures. Over time he has moved into importing products from China, building his own brand and steadily establishing himself in business. RATEL now sells items ranging from power stations to sensor lights.

A marketing style built on openness

What stands out most is how he markets the brand. Rather than relying on traditional adverts, he brings his audience along with him. He shows them the products, explains how they work and tests them publicly, so followers are watching the business grow in real time.

Whether people like him or not, few can deny the attention he has drawn to RATEL.

Sales are not profit

It is worth remembering that ₦90 million in sales is not ₦90 million in profit. Running a business comes with stock costs, shipping, staff, risk and plenty of other challenges, and the figure itself has not been independently confirmed.

Still, if RATEL keeps up this momentum, many observers believe it could grow into a multibillion-naira business group. Ten years from now, people may look back at these early videos and remember exactly how it all started.

Why it matters

Nigeria needs more young people who can turn online influence into productive businesses that create jobs and last. VDM's journey, with its struggles, criticism, mistakes and determination, is playing out in full public view.

So the question is simple: do you believe RATEL can become one of Nigeria's biggest indigenous brands in the next five years?

Social media activist VeryDarkMan (VDM) is facing fresh criticism over his power station business, this time from content creator De Peters.

What De Peters said

In comments reported on Saturday, 31 October 2026, De Peters reportedly asked why VDM was acting as though he was giving Nigerians free power stations, when he was in fact selling them to make money. He argued that VDM often criticises other influencers for promoting cryptocurrency, betting platforms and other products, yet was now promoting his own goods. He also said other businesses already sell power stations in Nigeria, some with similar capacity and specifications at lower prices.

Background

VDM has spent recent weeks promoting his Ratel power stations, imported from China, with videos from a warehouse and demonstrations of the units. He has said buyers will be limited to two units each and has clashed with businessman Blord, whom he accuses of copying the idea. Other commentators have praised VDM for bringing more affordable solar options to Nigerians, with one claiming that prices of power stations have fallen since the Ratel brand launched. The debate comes as federal agencies warn celebrities they will be held responsible for promoting fraudulent products, although there is no suggestion that VDM's products are fraudulent.

How people reacted

The comments sparked a wider conversation about influencer marketing. Some users agreed that VDM should not present a business as charity, while his supporters said he was offering a useful product at a fair price. VDM had not publicly responded at the time of the report.