Entertainer and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has visited the popular bus stop in Bariga, Lagos, which was renamed from “Charly Boy Bus Stop” to “Olamide Baddo Bus Stop.”
The renaming took place weeks ago under the leadership of Kolade David, then chairman of Bariga Local Council Development Area, to honour notable personalities like Afropop star Olamide Adedeji, King Sunny Ade, 9ice, Tony Tetuila, and footballer Bukayo Saka.
According to Charly Boy, who shared a video of the visit on Instagram on Wednesday, the development does not anger him. Instead, he used the moment to poke fun at the change.
“My people, U can already guess where your Area Fada dey? Olamide Baddo Bus Stop! Yes o, na the same bus stop wey una sabi since… now na Baddo get am. Street na street, e no get age limit, abi?” he wrote.
In the video, he also mocked those behind the renaming. “I just dey inside car dey laugh yeye people wey wan show Fada power. The Emperor of Nigeria go soon rename everywhere. Next thing, dem go name airport after one DJ, then call National Assembly ‘Comedy Central.’ Yeye dey smell. For me? I still go dey fresh, I still dey cruise, and I still no send anybody wey no like am. Life too short to dey vex for bus stop name change, when I never chop. Dia Fathers.”
Charly Boy, 75, recalled during an interview on Channels TV’s Morning Brief that the bus stop was named after him in 1991 or 1992, following his 1990 hit song. “Once upon a time, I used to live at the bus stop… I do contribute to that community, both military, pensioners, Okada riders and any young persons, I gave scholarships out and all other things,” he said.
He stressed that he is “indifferent” to the change. “It does not matter. Anybody who has done something for his community should take the shine. It does not really matter to me… I’m indifferent, that is not our priority right now. There should be something more important to all of us, which is to make sure that come 2027… our votes should count. Period!”
In an earlier social media post, he declared, “Dem say dey don change the name of Charly Boy Bus Stop. Hmmm. Very interesting. But let me remind you… you can rename a place… but you can’t rename a legacy. You can replace the signboard… but you can’t erase the spirit. That name Charly Boy Bus Stop was not given by politicians. It was named by the people… So go ahead, change the name. But remember, you can’t change the truth. You can’t erase fire. Area Fada no dey finish.”
