- Veteran singer Charly Boy opened up on how the famous ‘Charly Boy’ Bus Stop in Gbagada came to be
- The activist stated in an interview that his community work in the 90s earned him the name, not politics or fame
- The move to rename the stop, he stated, wasn’t about honouring Olamide but about erasing community memory for political gain
Veteran singer Charles Oputa, aka Charly Boy, offered a backstory to how the Charly Boy Bus Stop in Lagos got its name in the first place.
TheTalk.NG reported that The Bariga Local Council Development Area had recently renamed the popular bus stop after indigenous rapper and music executive, Olamide, drawing debates among Lagos residents and online users.
But for the social crusader, the decision to strip the stop of his name isn’t just political, it’s personal.
Charly Boy opens up on how the famous ‘Charly Boy’ Bus Stop in Gbagada came to be. Photos: @areafada1/IGSource: Instagram
Speaking during an interview on The Morning Brief on Channels TV, the 74-year-old said the bus stop wasn’t named after him by politicians or celebrities, but by the people who felt the impact of his presence in Gbagada during the early 90s.
He stated:
“Once upon a time, I used to live at the bus stop. People who were at Gbagada at the time felt it was just the right thing to name a bus stop after me because I contributed to that community.”
Charly Boy, who is widely known for his eccentric fashion and activism, said military officers, pensioners, okada riders, and even students all benefited from his generosity during his time in the area.
He added:
“I gave out scholarships, I supported families… I don’t like talking about what I’ve done, but I did try for my people. It wasn’t about popularity. It was about impact”
In his view, the move to rename the stop wasn’t about honouring Olamide—whom he respects—but about erasing community memory for political gain.
“To take my name off and call it something else now… I see it as petty. It’s not about Olamide; it’s the intention behind the change.”
See the interview here:
Netizens react to Charly Boy’s interview
TheTalk.NG compiled reactions of netizens below:
@DbPragmatic:
“Charlie boy used to stay at the bus stop and connect with the people of the area, so it was named after him. Now he is no longer living at the bus stop and it was renamed after another person who grew up around the place and now have great bond and connection to the place.”
@de_generalnoni:
“This thing pa!n werey. Yet you dishonour the people that honoured you! We need rebuttal from people who live in that axis to debunk all this rubbish.”
@BabatundeBilly:
“No one name it after him but himself, original name for that bus stop was Second Pedro (Name of a well known Lagos Family). He’s was a tenant and wasn’t qualified to have bus stop named after him.”
@HassanWale86230:
“The Pain. That bus stop was 2nd Pedro man. That Charly boy wasn’t even registered; you only hijacked it. Just go home and rest, or you have one named after you in your hometown.”
Charly Boy states that his community work in the 90s earned him the name, not politics or fame. Photos: @areafada1/IG.Source: Instagram
Charly Boy makes bold claim about Lagos
TheTalk.NG earlier reported that Charly Boy has entered the ongoing debate about the true ownership of Lagos State.
According to the Area Fada, Lagos does not belong to any single tribe in Nigeria. Instead, he described the city as a melting pot of cultures, much like New York City in the United States.
His comments were made during a recent interview with News Central TV, where he touched on the diversity and shared identity of Lagosians, regardless of origin.
Source: TheTalk.NG
