Former President Olusegun Obasanjo explains his admiration for Charlie Boy despite initial reservations

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has shared the reasons behind his admiration for entertainer Charles Oputa, known as Charlie Boy, despite initially being put off by his unconventional dressing style. Obasanjo, in an interview on the Before Tomorrow Comes Podcast, recounted his close relationship with Charlie Boy's father, the late Supreme Court Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, whom he greatly admired. Initially, Obasanjo was critical of Charlie Boy's "jaga-jaga" appearance, finding it incongruous with his father's polished image. However, his perception shifted dramatically when he witnessed Charlie Boy's devoted care for his ailing father. Obasanjo noted that Charlie Boy's dedication to his father, and later his mother, surpassed any expectations based on his eccentric style. He came to understand Charlie Boy's unique presentation as part of his comedic and entertainment persona. Obasanjo, who wrote the foreword for Charlie Boy’s memoir, 999, now views the entertainer's "jaga-jaga" style as an integral part of his identity and a means of making a living. He highlighted the relationship between Charlie Boy and his father as a lesson for parents to guide their children while allowing them to pursue their chosen paths, provided they are not criminal. Obasanjo also used the interview to advocate for tolerance and national unity, cautioning against ethnic generalizations.