“I Wish Charly Boy Had Resembled His Father” — Obasanjo Reveals What Changed His Perception

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that his perception of veteran entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, changed after he witnessed the care the entertainer provided to his late father, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa. Obasanjo made the revelation during an interview with media personality Isbae U, while explaining why he had previously described Charly Boy as “Jaga Jaga.” The former president said he initially had little regard for Charly Boy because of the entertainer's unconventional appearance and lifestyle. He contrasted this with his high regard for Justice Oputa, whom he described as a great man. “He has a good father, Justice Oputa. Oh, what a great man. I wish Charly Boy had resembled him.” Obasanjo said his attitude began to change when he visited Justice Oputa and discovered that the retired jurist was living in Charly Boy's home and receiving care from his son. According to Obasanjo, he was initially surprised by the unconventional appearance of the house, including a motorcycle parked outside. However, what impressed him was seeing the level of care Charly Boy provided for his father. He said Charly Boy continued looking after Justice Oputa until his death and later extended the same care to his mother. “Charly Boy took care of her. Then I started changing my mind. I changed my mind about him.” Obasanjo also said Charly Boy later explained that his unconventional public persona was part of how he made a living. The former president said this helped him recognise the entertainer's intelligence and changed his understanding of his lifestyle. Obasanjo said he eventually developed some affection for Charly Boy, although he qualified it by saying: “So now I like him a bit, not too much.” The comments are consistent with remarks Obasanjo made earlier in 2026, when he also discussed Charly Boy's unconventional career and his devotion to caring for his parents. Source: GistReel, with additional verification from Punch, The Sun, Vanguard and Premium Times.