From zero respect to devoted son: How Charly Boy won over Olusegun Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo initially dismissed controversial entertainer Charles Oputa, better known as Charly Boy, as chaotic and unworthy of respect, until a surprising realisation changed his perspective entirely.
Appearing in an interview with media personality Bae U, Obasanjo reflected on his past scepticism regarding the eccentric musician and media figure. Driven by high regard for the entertainer’s father, the late jurist Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Obasanjo originally struggled to see any resemblance between father and son.
*Obasanjo and Charlie Boy
Abimbola Joseph
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo initially dismissed controversial entertainer Charles Oputa, better known as Charly Boy, as chaotic and unworthy of respect, until a surprising realisation changed his perspective entirely.
Appearing in an interview with media personality Bae U, Obasanjo reflected on his past scepticism regarding the eccentric musician and media figure. Driven by high regard for the entertainer’s father, the late jurist Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Obasanjo originally struggled to see any resemblance between father and son.
“Well, Charlie Boy is so jaga jaga that I don’t know anything about him,” Obasanjo admitted when asked why he frequently used the term to describe him.
Expressing his deep reverence for the elder Oputa, he added, “He has a good father, Justice Oputa. Oh, what a great man. I wish Charlie Boy had resembled him.”
Obasanjo confessed that he initially held no high regard for the entertainer: “When I first came to know Charlie Boy, I had no iota of regard or respect for him.”
That outlook began to shift during an unannounced visit to pay his respects to Justice Oputa. Expecting a traditional environment, Obasanjo instead arrived at Charly Boy’s residence, greeted immediately by the musician’s signature flamboyant style.
“But when I went to visit Justice, it was in Charlie Boy’s house. I didn’t know it was in Charlie Boy’s house. So, the first thing that put me off in that house, I saw a motorcycle in front of the house. The way the motorcycle was dressed and all that, I said, ‘What is this”? Obasanjo recounted.
However, entering the home reframed his opinion. Seeing the level of devotion Charly Boy displayed towards his ageing father completely won over the former president.
“And then I went inside the house. I saw how Justice was being taken care of and by who? Charlie Boy. Ah! So, I started changing my mind about Charlie Boy, and until Justice Oputa died, Charlie Boy took perfect care of him, looked after him, and he really behaved like a good child would give to his father. This dedication extended to Charly Boy’s mother as well.”
“He didn’t stop there. He did the same to his mother. And I used to frequently visit the mother, who was a great humorous woman. Charlie Boy took care of her. Then I started changing my mind. I changed my mind about him,” Obasanjo noted.
The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when the elder statesman confronted Charly Boy directly about his wild, rebellious persona. Charly Boy explained that his controversial brand was a calculated business strategy, a hustle designed to sustain his livelihood.
“Then one day I asked him, I said, ‘Look, Charlie Boy, what is all this?’ You said that Jaga Jaga, all those Jaga Jaga things that I see, is to make chop-chop and it’s an intelligent boy, that Charlie Boy, all Jaga Jaga, because you cannot do Jaga Jaga to earn a living without being intelligent,” Obasanjo said.
Recognising the sharp business mind behind the eccentric exterior, Obasanjo admitted his stance softened completely, though he added with characteristic humour: “So now I like him a bit, not too much.”
