Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has opened up on why he developed admiration for controversial entertainer and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charlie Boy, despite initially disliking his unusual lifestyle and mode of dressing.
Obasanjo said his first impression of Charlie Boy was far from positive because he could not understand why the son of a respected Supreme Court justice would choose such an unconventional path in life.
The former president spoke during an interview on the Before Tomorrow Comes Podcast, which was posted on YouTube on Thursday.
In the interview, Obasanjo reflected on his long relationship with the Oputa family, especially the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, whom he described as one of the few Nigerians he truly admired and considered a close friend.
According to Obasanjo, his respect for the late jurist made him even more surprised when he first encountered Charlie Boy’s appearance and lifestyle.
“I was close to Charlie Boy’s father, Justice Oputa,” Obasanjo said.
“I don’t have many friends or many people I admire, but Justice Oputa was one Nigerian I could call a friend and one Nigerian I admired.”
The former military ruler said Justice Oputa carried himself with dignity, discipline and class, qualities that sharply contrasted with Charlie Boy’s public image at the time.
“Justice Oputa was decent, well-groomed, well-dressed and immaculate,” he said.
“Then I started seeing Charlie Boy and they said he was Justice Oputa’s son. I looked at him and said, ‘How can an adult dress like this?’ He was dressed jaga-jaga. So I didn’t think much of him.”
Charlie Boy has for decades remained one of Nigeria’s most controversial entertainers. Known for his unusual dress style, tattoos, motorcycles and outspoken views, he built a public image that often challenged social and cultural norms.
Popularly called the “Area Fada,” Charlie Boy rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s through music, television shows and social activism. Over the years, he became known not only for entertainment but also for speaking strongly on governance, corruption and youth issues.
His unconventional lifestyle often attracted criticism, especially from conservative Nigerians who believed his appearance and conduct did not reflect traditional values.
Obasanjo admitted that he once shared that view.
However, the former president said his opinion changed completely after a visit to Justice Oputa.
According to him, he had gone to see the late jurist one day but discovered that he was staying in Charlie Boy’s house.
“On one occasion, I wanted to pay Justice Oputa a visit, and where did I find him? I found him in Charlie Boy’s house,” Obasanjo recounted.
He said what touched him most was not the entertainer’s appearance but the way he cared for his elderly father.
“Going into Charlie Boy’s house, you see him jaga-jaga, riding motorcycles and dressing like someone going to war,” he said.
“But what struck me was the way Charlie Boy was taking care of his father.”
Obasanjo said the level of love, attention and respect Charlie Boy showed his father changed his entire perception of him.
“If Charlie Boy had been ten times more immaculately dressed, he would not have taken care of his father better than what I saw,” he added.
“That was what drew me to him.”
The former president explained that he later realised Charlie Boy’s public image was largely part of entertainment and performance.
He said what many people saw as strange behaviour was actually part of the entertainer’s way of making people laugh and building his career.
“I realised his jaga-jaga tricks, the way he dressed and behaved, were part of comedy and amusement,” Obasanjo said.
“So I got drawn to Charlie Boy.”
Obasanjo said his admiration for Charlie Boy became stronger after the death of Justice Oputa.
He revealed that he also became close to Charlie Boy’s mother, whom he described as a “moral woman.”
According to him, Charlie Boy took excellent care of his mother until her death and ensured she received a dignified burial.
“He cared for his mother even better than he cared for his father,” Obasanjo said.
“And when she died, he gave her a decent goodbye that any child could give.”
The former president said his relationship with Charlie Boy taught him an important lesson about judging people based only on appearance.
He noted that many people fail to look beyond outward appearances to understand a person’s character and values.
“To me now, the jaga-jaga dressing doesn’t matter anymore,” he said.
“I see it as part of making a living.”
Obasanjo also spoke about Charlie Boy’s relationship with his father and how Justice Oputa eventually accepted his son’s life choices despite initial differences.
According to him, the late justice may not have wanted his son to become an entertainer or comedian, but he respected Charlie Boy’s decision to follow his own path.
He described this as an important lesson for Nigerian parents.
“How did his father tolerate him when he was not going the way the father wanted?” Obasanjo asked.
“If he would not become a lawyer but decided to become a singer or comedian, it may not have been what the father wanted. But he chose a path for his life and maintained it.”
Obasanjo said parents should guide their children but should also allow them to pursue careers and lifestyles that reflect their passion, provided they are not involved in crime or wrongdoing.
He added that the late Justice Oputa eventually became very close to Charlie Boy and accepted him fully.
“In the later part of his father’s life, Charlie Boy became his favourite. I know that,” he said.
The former president made the remarks while discussing Charlie Boy’s memoir titled 999, for which he wrote the foreword.
Obasanjo described the memoir as “fairly well written” and “a masterpiece” that contains important lessons about family, resilience and helping others.
The public presentation of the book is expected to hold in Lagos in July.
Beyond his comments on Charlie Boy, Obasanjo also used the interview to preach tolerance and national unity.
He warned Nigerians against judging entire ethnic groups based on the actions of a few individuals.
“If you say Yorubas are bad because of what one Yoruba man did, or Fulanis are bad because of what one Fulani man did, then who is good?” he asked.
The former president’s comments have already generated reactions on social media, with many Nigerians praising his openness and willingness to look beyond appearances in judging people.
Others described his remarks as a reminder that character and compassion matter more than physical appearance or public image.
But beyond the public image and controversies surrounding Charlie Boy over the years, Obasanjo said he discovered a man deeply committed to family values and devoted to caring for his parents.