By Halimah Olamide
Veteran Nigerian actor turned government critic, Charles Oputa, popularly called Charly Boy, has laughed off alleged plans by a community leader (Baale) in the Shomolu Bariga area of Lagos to change the name of the Bus Stop named after him more than three decades ago.
NPO Reports that Charly Boy Bus Stop has been in existence for decades and located along the Anthony-Gbagada Expressway in Lagos.
A major attraction at the Bus Stop was a power bike that was a signature sign of the building where the actor lived for many years of his career as an actor and Television programme presenter.
His residence at the time was a beehive of activities for commercial motorcycle riders popularly called Okada who saw him as a father-figure and a rallying point.
The location was therefore named by many as Charly Boy Bus Stop.
However, there were reports in the last few days of a plan to rename the area Pedro Bus Stop.
NPO Reports has not been able to independently confirm this alleged plan but it was gathered that the move was to clip the wings of the actor and also according to speculations, “to prevent him from claiming he founded Gbagada.”
Claims by the President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, that the Igbos developed Lagos from its swamp status to what it is today has elicited reactions from far and near.
Charly Boy has consistently remained a major critic of government and in recent time, was a major supporter of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi.
Reacting to the purpoted plan to rename the bus stop, the actor said he would rather laugh it off adding that it is a cheap propaganda against his person which is not deserving of a serious response.
Read His Reaction Below:
My people, I just hear some tori wey dey crack my belle. Some kin kindergarten propaganda dey cerculate say the Bale for Gbagada don decide say him go change Charly Boy Bus Stop to Pedro Bus Stop before CB come claim say na him get Gbagada, Na wa o! Which kin chicken sense be dat.
This na the kind nonsense wey Fada dey always yarn about.
But we all know as e be, I no go let am worry me, as for AreaFada him no care e no send. Me ma, I go just laugh troway.
Make I yan una reality. I sure that bus stop no carry Charlyboy name because him beg for am, is he making any shishi from the bus stop,
as a die hard follower of AreaFada bcos of him works and love for humanity.
I go tell u say e happen because of the impact wey Fada carry enta that community through the Charly Boy Brand, the CBshow and his CodeRed foundation.
Remember the okada riders wey him been empower in those days, the outreaches and concerts, infact the Okada park wey still dey in front of the house now a bank na Fada set am up.
Una know how many okada riders AreaFada empower? E pass over 4,000, No be why them they call am the Charman Okada association of Nigeria. Oh good old days, na the real deal be those ones.
As for the Oba matter,
AreaFada pass Oba for age, but some people think say Fada just insult am. How AreaFada go insult person wey e senior for age? Because Fada ask, why a whole Oba wey no dey leave him palace go come Lagos to come tell us say “na God ordain Tinubu.
We all know say some politicians and their cronies dey use our traditional leaders like tools for tribalism and bigotry. As them dey wan set us up against one another, who still never know their ways be say our Mumu never Belleful us.
Them dey use religion, tribalism, bigotry, hunger, and poverty as tools.
Make we just dey prepared to experience another wave of Saul.
But no wahala, we go dey say no to political bigotry, no to tribalism, and no to religious bigotry.
My fellow country people let’s Stay woke
~AdaoraAsa
#SayNoToPoliticalBigotry #SayNoToTribalism #SayNoToReligiousBigotry”