 |
| Photo credit — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo & Charles Oputa |
Veteran Nigerian entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has responded calmly to comments made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo during the London launch of his memoir, 999.
Videos from the event, which circulated widely online, showed Obasanjo teasing Charly Boy with several remarks. These included calling him a “thief,” “barawo,” “drug addict,” and “ashawo.” The light-hearted banter drew mixed reactions from Nigerians, with some questioning the use of such strong language in public.
In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, Charly Boy clarified that the remarks should be understood in the context of their long-standing and familiar relationship. He stressed that Obasanjo did not mean the term “ashawo” literally.
Charly Boy wrote:
“SO BABA CALLED ME ASHAWO? Una dey ask me why Baba call me ashawo. My people, relax. Baba no mean say I dey run ashawo business. Or like say I dey follow women like Hegoat.
“You know say when you live your life differently from everybody else, people go give you plenty names. No kin name people never call me.
“Some say I be jaga-jaga boy. Some say rebel. Some say mad man. Some even call me a tortoise, dat am too smart for my own good.
Now Baba don add ashawo to the CV.
“But make I tell you something. If Baba has reached the point where he can stand in public and dey call me like his stubborn son, that one sef na sign of love.
“Because this same Baba wey dey call me all these names has also spoken about the things he respects about me, especially the way I stood by my father and later my mother.
“So if Baba calls me ashawo boy today. No wahala bcos, it takes one to know one. I go just collect the title and continue my journey.
After all, na only person wey don enter your heart fit get enough confidence to disgrace you publicly.
“Baba, I hear you. But I no agree with the ashawo part o!”
The exchange highlights the unusual but well-documented friendship between the former president and the outspoken entertainer.
RELATED ▶︎ ‘Olu Jacobs Trained Me’ — Sola Sobowale Pays Tribute to Late Nollywood Icon
Obasanjo has previously spoken about how his view of Charly Boy changed after witnessing the care the musician gave his late father, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, and later his mother. Obasanjo also wrote the foreword to 999 and hosted both the Nigerian and London launches of the book.
Charly Boy has often described their bond as one of mutual respect that allows for open banter. His response frames the public teasing as a sign of closeness rather than insult, while still rejecting the specific “ashawo” label in his characteristic humorous style.
The memoir 999 continues Charly Boy’s tradition of candid storytelling about his unconventional life, activism, and personal challenges. The London event formed part of efforts to promote the book and related initiatives, including awareness around men’s health.
This episode once again shows how Charly Boy turns potential controversy into an opportunity to reaffirm his independent path and the relationships that matter to him.
Chioma Adeyemi is an entertainment and music writer at Naijapiz. She covers Entertainment, Music, Videos.
Post a Comment