Obasanjo on Charlie Boy: “I Wish He Had Resembled His Father”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has offered an unusually personal reflection on veteran entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charlie Boy, recalling how his perception of the outspoken entertainer changed over the years.

Obasanjo said he initially struggled to understand Charlie Boy because he expected the son of the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa to resemble his father.

Justice Oputa, a former Supreme Court judge, was someone Obasanjo described as a great man whom he respected deeply. “I wish Charlie Boy had resembled him,” Obasanjo said.

But the former president said his opinion changed when he saw how Charlie Boy cared for his father as the elderly jurist approached the end of his life.

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According to Obasanjo, Charlie Boy’s unconventional appearance and public persona initially distracted him from seeing another side of the entertainer.

That changed when he witnessed the way Charlie Boy looked after his parents. Obasanjo said the entertainer also cared for his mother and continued to show responsibility towards his family despite his unusual public image.

The reflection is interesting because it separates personality from character. A person may dress differently, speak differently or deliberately build an eccentric public identity without those traits telling the whole story about how the person treats those closest to him.

Obasanjo’s latest comments therefore go beyond Charlie Boy. They touch on an old human mistake: judging people from what they display publicly while overlooking what they do privately.

ValidViewNetwork reports that Obasanjo’s remarks also reveal how his own judgment of Charlie Boy evolved after witnessing his treatment of his parents. Sometimes, character is not found in appearance.It is found in responsibility.