Why Charlie Boy’s ‘Jaga-Jaga’ Lifestyle Didn’t Stop My Admiration — Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has given insight into why he eventually developed admiration for entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charlie Boy, despite his initial reservations about the singer’s unconventional dressing style, which he described as “jaga-jaga.”

Obasanjo spoke on the Before Tomorrow Comes Podcast, aired on YouTube on Thursday, where he reflected on his relationship with Charlie Boy and his late father, Supreme Court Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.

He recalled that his first impression of the entertainer was shaped by his appearance, which contrasted sharply with the dignified image of his father.

“I was close to Charlie Boy’s father, Justice Oputa. He was decent, well-groomed, immaculate, and a man I admired,” Obasanjo said.

“Then I saw his son, Charlie Boy. He was dressed jaga jaga. I said, how can an adult dress like this? So I didn’t think much of him.”

The former president, however, said his perception began to change after a visit to the late Justice Oputa, where he unexpectedly met him at Charlie Boy’s residence.

According to him, what struck him most was not the entertainer’s appearance, but how well he cared for his father.

“I wanted to pay him a visit, and I found him in Charlie Boy’s house. Of course, you see him jaga jaga, moving around on a motorcycle, dressed in his own way,” he said.

“But what struck me was how he took care of his father. If he had been ten times immaculately dressed, he would not have cared for his father better than what I saw.”

Obasanjo said that moment changed his perception entirely, leading him to look beyond the entertainer’s outward appearance.

“So, I got drawn to Charlie Boy. I realised his jaga-jaga lifestyle was part of his comedic expression and way of life,” he added.

He also revealed that his admiration deepened after the death of Justice Oputa, noting that Charlie Boy continued to show strong family responsibility, including towards his mother, whom he described as a “moral woman.”

“I became close to Charlie Boy. His dressing no longer mattered to me. I saw it as part of making life and expressing himself,” Obasanjo said.

The former military president said the experience offered him a broader lesson on parenting and individuality, stressing that children should be guided but not forced into rigid life paths.

He noted that Charlie Boy chose a different career path from what his father might have preferred, but remained consistent in it while maintaining a strong family bond.

Obasanjo, who wrote the foreword to Charlie Boy’s memoir 999, described the book as “well written and a masterpiece,” saying it contains important lessons on family and resilience.

He also used the opportunity to call for tolerance and national unity, warning against judging entire groups based on the actions of individuals.

“If you say one Yoruba man is bad and conclude all Yoruba are bad, or one Fulani man is bad and conclude all Fulanis are bad, then who is good?” he asked.

The public presentation of 999 is expected to hold in Lagos in July.

Source: Punch