Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has spoken about his changing perception of entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charlie Boy, saying he once wished the entertainer had taken after his late father, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.
Obasanjo made the remarks during an interview with media personality Bae U, published on Saturday, while recalling his initial impression of Charlie Boy and how it changed after he witnessed the entertainer’s dedication to caring for his parents.
Asked why he often referred to Charlie Boy as “Jaga Jaga”, Obasanjo initially described the entertainer as someone he knew little about.
“Well, Charlie Boy is so jaga jaga that I don’t know anything about him,” Obasanjo said.
The former President then contrasted his view of Charlie Boy with his high regard for his late father, Justice Oputa, whom he described as one of the Nigerians he respected during his lifetime.
“He has a good father, Justice Oputa. Oh, what a great man. I wish Charlie Boy had resembled him,” he said.
Obasanjo, however, said his perception began to change after he visited Justice Oputa and discovered that Charlie Boy was responsible for his care.
“When I first came to know Charlie Boy, I had no iota of regard or respect for him.
“But when I went to visit Justice and it was in Charlie Boy’s house. I didn’t know it was in Charlie Boy’s house.
“So the first thing that put me off in that house, I saw a motorcycle in front of the house. The way the motorcycle was dressed and all that, I said, ‘What is this?’
“And then I went inside the house. I saw how Justice was being taken care of and by who? Charlie Boy.
“Ah, so I started changing my mind about Charlie Boy and until Justice Oputa died, Charlie Boy took perfect care of him, looked after him and he really behaved like a good child would give to his father.”
The former President said Charlie Boy’s care for his mother further changed his opinion of the entertainer.
“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. I changed my mind about him,” he said.
Obasanjo also recalled asking Charlie Boy about his unconventional appearance and public persona, saying the entertainer explained that it was part of how he made a living.
According to the former President, the explanation contributed further to his changing perception of Charlie Boy, whom he described as intelligent.
“Then one day I asked him, I said, ‘Look, Charlie Boy, what is all this?’
“You said that Jaga Jaga, all those Jaga Jaga things that I see, is to make chop-chop and he’s an intelligent boy, that Charlie Boy, all Jaga Jaga, because you cannot do Jaga Jaga to earn a living without being intelligent,” he said.
Obasanjo said he eventually developed some fondness for the entertainer, although he admitted that it was limited.
“So now I like him a bit, not too much,” he said.
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