Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he wished Nigerian entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charlie Boy, had resembled his late father, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, whom he described as a great man.
Obasanjo disclosed this during an interview with media personality, Bae U, published on Saturday, while recalling his initial perception of Charlie Boy and how his attitude towards the entertainer later changed after seeing how he cared for his father.
The former President was asked why he frequently referred to Charlie Boy as “Jaga Jaga”, to which he 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.
Explaining his perception of Charlie Boy, Obasanjo praised his late father, Justice Oputa, whom he said was one of the Nigerians he respected while he was alive.
“He has a good father, Justice Oputa. Oh, what a great man. I wish Charlie Boy had resembled him,” he said.
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Obasanjo, however, said his opinion of Charlie Boy changed after he visited Justice Oputa and discovered that the late jurist was being cared for by his son.
“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.
