By our reporter 8.5.2026
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said he has always admired maverick entertainer and musician Charles Oputa, a.k.a Charlie Boy, despite his hippie way of life.
Speaking during a chat on “Before Tomorrow Comes” podcast, posted on YouTube, Obasanjo said he was close to Charlie Boy’s family. And he came to know the musician’s true character through his late father Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, a former Supreme Court judge
“I was close to Charlie Boy’s father, Justice Oputa. I don’t have many friends or many people that I would say I admire, but late Justice Oputa was one Nigerian I could call a friend and one Nigerian I admired.
“Then I started seeing Charlie Boy, and they say Charlie Boy is the son of Justice Oputa. Justice Oputa is decent, well-groomed, well-dressed, immaculate, and proud. And then I saw this man called Charlie Boy, Oputa’s son.
“He was dressed jaga jaga. I said, ” Look, how can an adult dress like this? So I didn’t think much of Charlie Boy,” Obasanjo recounted.
But according to Obasanjo his perception of Charlie Boy changed when visited his dad who was at the Charlie Boy’s house.
“On one occasion, I wanted to pay him a visit. And where did I find him? I found him in Charlie Boy’s house.
“Of course, going into Charlie Boy’s house, you see him jaga jaga, living in his own house, on motorcycle, dressed like in war. But what struck me was Charlie Boy’s way of taking care of his father.
“If Charlie Boy had been ten times immaculately dressed, he would not have taken care of his father better than I saw him taking care of him.
“So, I got drawn to Charlie Boy. And then I realised that Charlie Boy’s jaga jaga tricks, his mediated acts of being a comedian and making money out of the way he dressed, his manner of behaviour, it’s all part of comedy, amusement. So, I got drawn to Charlie Boy,” Obasanjo said.