Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that his initial perception of entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, changed after he witnessed the care he gave to his parents.

Obasanjo made the disclosure while appearing on the Curiosity Made Me Ask podcast hosted by comedian and content creator Isbae U.

The former president said he initially had little regard for Charly Boy because of his unconventional public image.

However, his opinion changed after he visited the home of Charly Boy’s late father, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, and saw the entertainer personally caring for him.

Obasanjo said Charly Boy remained committed to his father’s wellbeing until his death and also extended the same level of care to his mother.

“When I first came to know Charly Boy, I had no iota of regard or respect for him,” Obasanjo said.

He explained that seeing how the entertainer looked after his father made him reconsider his earlier view of him.

The former president also recalled visiting Charly Boy’s mother regularly, describing her as a humorous woman and praising the attention her son gave her.

Obasanjo said he later confronted Charly Boy about his unusual appearance and behaviour in public.

According to him, Charly Boy explained that the eccentric persona was part of his strategy to make money.

Obasanjo also spoke fondly of Justice Oputa, describing him as one of the Nigerians he respected greatly.

He said he wished Charly Boy had taken after his father, while acknowledging the entertainer’s intelligence.

The former president noted that Charly Boy’s ability to sustain an unconventional public identity as a means of earning a living demonstrated that he was intelligent.