Chapter 2: A Confrontation Sparked by a Comment

Let’s go back to the last day of 2020.

Na crossover night, when everybody dey prepare for prayer or party. For some, na “watchnight” in church, others dey their street dey knock banger. Meanwhile, for online, LightHouseNaija dey upload new content as usual.

On December 31, 2020, "LightHouseNaija" dropped a video called "How Much Did 'LightHouseNaija' Earn in 2020."

For Naija, money talk always dey hot. So this video attract attention sharp-sharp. People dey curious to know how science dey pay for this country.

Since they started in 2018, Adewale Okonkwo and his team had made this yearly summary a tradition.

Fans dey wait for am every December like rice and chicken on Christmas Day. Na the video dem go use compare how far the company don go.

In 2020, "LightHouseNaija" spent a total of 900 million naira, with 500 million going to staff salaries.

People mouth open wide: “Ah ah! For science video?” Some begin dey calculate, “So if dem divide am by staff, how much each person dey collect?”

In just one year, the team grew from 20 to 55 people.

Sharp growth, like indomie wey swell for pot. Some people begin dey apply for job even for the comment section: “Oga, abeg, na graduate I be, I fit edit video!”

Their revenue for 2020 was three times what they made in 2019.

People dey hail am: “This one na real double promotion oh!”

Their growth was just too sharp.

Dem dey move like danfo wey no dey stop for bus stop. The hustle spirit full everywhere.

And they were not slowing down.

Adewale even dey talk of bigger plans. Some dey call am “Naija Elon Musk.”

After all, new projects like "Basic Operations" and "Mini Drying Plant" had just started.

Secondary school science clubs dey pre-order the kits. Parents dey save money for am like school fees.

In the new year, they still needed to hire more people and take on bigger projects.

“Work dey everywhere,” dem talk. Youths from every state dey dream to join LightHouseNaija—just to learn, or even sweep floor sef.

Adewale Okonkwo had already rented more office space on the same floor, and the company could now hold up to 150 people.

Office for Yaba, close to tech hubs. Some say even JAMB office never big reach that. For corridor, you go see all kinds of people—interns, engineers, even NYSC corpers with khaki.

In the video’s comment section, fans dropped congratulatory messages, celebrating "LightHouseNaija’s" success.

The comment section full like Ojuelegba traffic. Messages of “God bless your hustle” and “We dey your back” everywhere. Some people even send prayer hands emoji, others dey quote Bible verse for am.

It felt like watching your own pikin make it—everybody was proud.

Some aunties wey never meet am dey claim am as relative. “Na our boy! He dey put Nigeria on the map!”

But just as "LightHouseNaija’s" fans were rejoicing, one person came to scatter their parade.

Na so e be: whenever party dey sweet, somebody go always carry pepper soup wey no done. Trouble enter the comment section.

A Facebook content creator named "SalihuTheBrain" left a comment:

"After seeing this today, my belle turn—na only Vitamin B6 fit settle am."

For Naija, na subtle shade be this one. It be like person wey dey say “e no pain me” but e dey pain am die.

Vitamin B6 is usually used for treating nausea.

Some sharp people pick the message quick: Salihu dey talk say e shock am so tay e wan vomit.

With just that sly comment, he managed to shade "LightHouseNaija."

The way he drop am, e soft like boiled yam but pepper inside. Some people laugh, others vex.

That one comment was like poking a beehive.

Na true wahala start. You no fit shade LightHouseNaija and think say fans go quiet. That place turn battle ground.

Seeing their favourite creator being insulted, "LightHouseNaija’s" fans no fit keep quiet—they fired back at Salihu:

People start reply am with hot clapback. "Na jealousy dey worry you!" "Go hustle your own, no dey look another man pocket!" The insults begin fly.

"You just dey jealous say others dey make money."

Another person add: “If na easy, go do your own. Why you no get your own viral video?”

"You wan use their shine blow? Who you be—‘LightHouseNaija’ no be person you fit just ride on!"

Some even say, “No use our guy name chase clout for internet. E no go work!”

As dem dey talk, if you put chicken feathers on top goat, e no go turn to fowl—who you dey deceive?

Na so, old Yoruba proverb enter the matter. Everybody dey drag, dey quote grandma.

On Facebook, "LightHouseNaija" was a big name, with almost 3 million fans.

For Naija, number na power. 3 million followers—na whole city. Even some governors no get that kind reach.

If each fan spit once, Salihu go drown sharp sharp.

Twitter users dey say, “If LightHouseNaija fans use mouth waka, Salihu no go fit see road.” The numbers alone dey intimidate.

Meanwhile, Salihu’s account only get like 80,000 followers—small pikin for the matter.

Dem call am “upcoming.” Some even dey mock am: “Oga, you never reach where big boys dey play.”

So the internet fight started: one 80,000-follower blogger versus a 3 million-follower giant.

Social media dey hot, memes everywhere. Memes of Salihu as David and LightHouseNaija as Goliath scatter everywhere. Gistlover blogs begin carry the drama like breaking news.

80,000 vs. 3 million.

It be like Super Eagles vs. primary school team. Everybody dey watch to see who go tire first.

But Salihu no be small boy. Even as insults and accusations dey fly, he stood his ground.

Salihu tie wrapper, stand gidigba. He dey reply with his own receipts and facts. Some people begin dey respect am for boldness.

On January 24, 2021, he released a video called "Filling in the Knowledge Gaps Left by 'LightHouseNaija.'"

The title alone na shade—e be like person wey carry loudspeaker enter village square to expose secret.

With that video, he directly faced "LightHouseNaija’s" fans.

No fear, no shaking. He address dem directly, call names, show clips. The tension high, everybody dey wait for reply.

In the video, Salihu pointed out the "small errors" in "LightHouseNaija’s" old videos, giving facts and explanations.

He dey rewind old tapes, show where numbers no add up, where facts bend small. His tone dey sharp, like teacher wey catch person cheat.

For example, in "Why Is Nigeria’s Table Salt Only Monopolized by the State," "LightHouseNaija" said:

He show the video clip, pause, then break down the argument.

"Because of monopoly operations, the country can reap nearly tenfold profits from table salt every year."

Salihu say, “Dem no talk the full matter. Yes, monopoly dey, but e help keep price low for common man.”

But they no talk say Nigeria’s table salt cheap, good quality, and can still supply steady even during wahala, with no price increase.

Salihu add: “If you ask traders for Onitsha, dem go tell you salt never scarce—even during fuel scarcity.”

In "How to Scientifically Create Rainfall," the only example "LightHouseNaija" gave was Nigeria firing weather rockets before big events to stop rain—making it look like Nigeria’s artificial rainfall projects na just show, nothing serious.

Salihu counter am: “But even NIMET don dey do weather modification since independence. Why dem no talk am?”

In "How to Divorce Scientifically," "LightHouseNaija" even edited a video from law blogger "Barrister Musa Explains Law" in a bad way.

He pause the two videos side by side, show the part wey no match. E be like police wey catch thief for market.

Even after viewers pointed out the mistake in the comments, "LightHouseNaija" no answer.

Salihu read comments, show dates. “People talk, una bone.”

It was not until one year later, when "Barrister Musa Explains Law" joined Facebook, that they finally apologized.

E shock fans: “So apology na only when e go public? Why una no correct am quick?”

They even tried to use Barrister Musa’s shine—just like putting chicken feathers on a telephone pole and calling it a peacock (just forming what you’re not).

Na so online people begin dey yarn: “Why una dey form what una no be?” Some dey laugh, others dey para.

At the end of his video, Salihu concluded:

He face camera: “Make una open eye. Some people dey use science cover personal agenda. Na so dem dey start propaganda.”

"LightHouseNaija" is clearly pushing their own agenda, with hidden motives, and their angle is just bent.

Some people clap for am, others hiss. But the talk don enter street, everybody dey analyze.

As soon as that video dropped, it spread everywhere, and the online argument blew up.

Gossip blogs, Twitter influencers, even WhatsApp aunties carry the gist. "E don set! Salihu don open everybody yansh." People dey forward the video to every group.

Many top influencers with millions of followers reposted the video.

Na so the matter spread reach TVC, bloggers for Kaduna, and even TikTok children. It become trending gist.

Comment sections across the big platforms were on fire with debate.

Some dey type epistle, others dey drop only fire emoji. Debates turn to insults, friendships break, new alliances form. Everybody get opinion.

Fans of "LightHouseNaija" said Salihu was overdoing things and just wanted to use their popularity.

Some call am “clout chaser,” others say, “If you dey envy, just talk.”

Salihu’s supporters said "LightHouseNaija’s" videos were one-sided and misleading on purpose.

They yarn, “Science must talk true. No dey hide facts because of money or fame.”

"LightHouseNaija’s" fans replied that out of over a hundred videos, Salihu just picked small mistakes and ignored all the good work "LightHouseNaija" did for science education.

They quote old videos, post testimonials. “Abi na only bad you dey see? Wetin happen to the hundred good ones?”

Salihu’s supporters shot back that mixing personal agenda into science videos is as bad as poisonous textbooks.

They dey shout: “Na so dem dey start brainwash people. We no go gree!”

At the end, both sides started calling each other "one-way wire" (meaning someone is stubborn and only sees one side).

Na so the debate scatter. Even market women and okada riders dey use “one-way wire” insult for street that week. Twitter people begin drop “E shock you?” gif, wahala no small. Social media tire for wahala, but the fire never quench.

Nobody sabi who go win—na only street go judge this matter.