The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka, has criticized musician and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, over his recent comments on Lagos.
Charly Boy had frowned at the decision of the Bariga Local Council Development Area in Lagos to rename a popular bus stop from his name to that of award-winning hip-hop star, Olamide Adedeji, known as Olamide Baddo. Reacting to the change, Charly Boy declared that “Lagos is a no man’s land,” comparing the city to New York in the United States, known for its diversity.
In a strong response posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Olayinka dismissed the comment and challenged Charly Boy to run for traditional leadership positions in Lagos if he believes the state belongs to everyone.
“Ndi Lagos is no man’s land, when next the seat of Oba of Lagos becomes vacant, go and contest for it,” he wrote sarcastically.
He further listed several Lagos traditional titles such as Oniru, Elegushi, Olu of Mushin, and Oloto, saying that if Lagos truly belonged to no one, Charly Boy should aim to occupy any of those royal stools.
“You can also contest the seats of Obas like Osolo of Isolo, Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Olu of Mushin, etc.
“You can even become Oniru, Ojora, Olumegbon, Aromire, Oluwa, Oloto, Olumegbon, Elegushi, Bajulaye, Ashogbon, etc.
“Sebi all these Traditional Titles are in your own language, not Yoruba.”
The debate touches on the long-standing but controversial statement that Lagos, due to its economic and cultural diversity, is “no man’s land.” However, many Yoruba indigenes view the state as historically and culturally Yoruba, and they have repeatedly rejected such claims.
The renaming of the bus stop and the comments that followed have reignited this debate, especially in the context of growing political and ethnic sensitivity in parts of Nigeria.
