Entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has responded after former President Olusegun Obasanjo jokingly described him as an ‘ashawo’ at the London launch of his book, 999.
Obasanjo, who was the chief host of the September 29 event in London, appeared in a viral video teasing Charly Boy, calling him a “thief,” “barawo,” “drug addict”, and “ashawo.”
The video has sparked reactions online, with many asking why the former president used the word ‘ashawo’ for the entertainer.
In a post on X on Friday, Charly Boy said Obasanjo did not mean he was into prostitution, noting that the remark was made in good humour.
“So Baba called me ASHAWO? Una dey ask me why Baba call me ashawo. My people, relax. Baba no mean say I dey run ashawo business. Or like say I dey follow women like Hegoat.
“You know say when you live your life differently from everybody else, people go give you plenty names. No kin name people never call me. Some say I be jaga-jaga boy. Some say rebel. Some say, mad man. Some even call me a tortoise, dat am too smart for my own good.
“Now Baba don add ashawo to the CV,” he wrote.
He said being publicly teased by the former president showed how close they were.
“But make I tell you something. If Baba has reached the point where he can stand in public and dey call me like his stubborn son, that one sef na sign of love,” he added.
Charly Boy also recalled that Obasanjo had spoken about what he admires in him, including his loyalty to his parents.
“Because this same Baba wey dey call me all these names has also spoken about the things he respects about me, especially the way I stood by my father and later my mother,” he said.
Obasanjo had previously referred to Charly Boy as a “jagajaga boy” while praising his commitment to his late father, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa
He wrote the foreword to 999 and was chief host at both the Nigerian and London launches.
Charly Boy said he would accept the teasing as part of their long-standing bond.
“So if Baba calls me ashawo boy today, no wahala because it takes one to know one. I go just collect the title and continue my journey,” he wrote.
