Popular Nigerian entertainer Charles Oputa, widely known as Charly Boy, has responded to a playful remark by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who referred to him as an “ashawo” during the London presentation of his memoir, 999.
Obasanjo, who hosted the September 29 event in London, was seen in a video making a series of humorous references to Charly Boy. Among the descriptions used by the former president were “thief,” “barawo,” “drug addict” and “ashawo.”
The video subsequently gained attention on social media, with some Nigerians seeking clarification about Obasanjo’s use of the word “ashawo,” a Nigerian slang term commonly associated with prostitution.
Addressing the issue in a post on X on Friday, Charly Boy said the former president was not suggesting that he was involved in prostitution. Instead, he interpreted the comment as part of the informal relationship they have developed over the years.
He wrote, “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. The kind 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”
Charly Boy said Obasanjo’s ability to joke with him publicly reflected what he described as a bond built over time.
“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.
The entertainer also pointed to previous comments by Obasanjo in which the former president acknowledged aspects of his character, particularly his commitment 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 has previously referred to Charly Boy as a “jagajaga boy” while also acknowledging the support he gave his late father, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.
The relationship between the two also extends to Charly Boy’s memoir. Obasanjo wrote the foreword to 999 and served as chief host during the Nigerian launch of the book before participating in its London presentation.
Against that background, Charly Boy said he viewed the latest description as another episode in their longstanding exchanges.
“So if Baba calls me ashawo boy today, no wahala bcos, it takes one to know one. I go just collect the title and continue my journey,” he said.
He concluded with another playful response to the former president: “After all, na only person wey don enter your heart fit get enough confidence to disgrace you publicly.
“Baba, I hear you. But I no agree with the ashawo part o!”
