Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how veteran entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, went from a man he had “no iota of regard or respect” for to someone he now likes — at least “a bit”.
Obasanjo made the revelation during his appearance on comedian Isbae U’s Curiosity Made Me Ask podcast, where he opened up about his first impression of the controversial entertainer and what eventually changed his mind.
According to the former president, Charly Boy’s eccentric appearance and lifestyle initially turned him off.
He recalled visiting the home of the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, whom he greatly respected, only to discover that the residence belonged to his son, Charly Boy.
Obasanjo said even before entering the house, something caught his attention.
He recalled seeing a motorcycle parked outside and wondering what was going on, given Charly Boy’s unusual style.
But what happened inside the house changed everything.
Obasanjo said he was struck by the way Charly Boy cared for his father, describing the entertainer’s devotion to the respected jurist as the moment his perception began to change.
“When I first came to know Charly Boy, I had no iota of regard or respect for him,” Obasanjo said.
“But when I went to visit Joseph Oputa, it was in Charly Boy’s house. I didn’t know it was in Charly Boy’s house.”
He said he subsequently saw Charly Boy personally caring for his father and remained impressed by the attention he gave him until his death.
“I saw how Joseph Oputa was being taken care of, and by whom? Charly Boy. So, I started changing my mind about Charly Boy. Until Joseph Oputa died, Charly Boy took perfect care of him.”
Obasanjo said Charly Boy’s care was not limited to his father, adding that he also devoted himself to his mother, whom the former president described as a humorous woman.
“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,” he said.
The former president also recalled confronting Charly Boy about his bizarre public image and the antics that had earned him the “Jaga Jaga” tag.
According to Obasanjo, Charly Boy explained that the unconventional lifestyle was simply part of his strategy for making money.
“Then one day I asked him, ‘Look, Charly Boy, what’s all this?’ He said all those jaga-jaga things that I see are to make chop-chop,” Obasanjo recalled.
The explanation, he said, made him see another side of the entertainer.
Obasanjo described Charly Boy as intelligent, arguing that maintaining such an unconventional public persona as a means of earning a living required intelligence.
He, however, maintained his admiration for Charly Boy’s late father, Justice Oputa, whom he described as a great man.
“He has a good father, Justice Oputa. Oh, what a great man. I wish Charlie Boy had resembled him,” Obasanjo said.
Despite his earlier reservations, Obasanjo eventually admitted that his feelings towards Charly Boy had softened.
“So now I like him a bit, not too much,” he said.
The Charly Boy revelation was one of several entertaining moments in Obasanjo’s unusual appearance on Isbae U’s podcast.
At another point, the comedian joked about Obasanjo’s eight years in Aso Rock, asking whether the former president cried when he was told to leave the presidential residence after completing his tenure.
The former military officer also engaged in playful banter with Isbae U over his hairstyle and reminded the comedian that he was a general when the exchange became more combative.
The appearance has attracted attention because of the unusual pairing of a former Nigerian president with a podcast known for its roast-style humour and unconventional questions.
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