Renowned Nigerian entertainer, Charles Oputa, also referred to as Charly Boy, has sparked controversy with remarks he made recently regarding Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka.
Charly Boy said in an Instagram post that Soyinka, who is currently in his late 80s, is exhibiting symptoms of “brain deterioration.” He warned Nigerians not to take the literary icon’s remarks too seriously and ascribed Soyinka’s recent remarks and behavior to age-related mental degeneration. In addition, Charly Boy voiced worry about Soyinka’s friends and family, accusing them of not doing enough to shield him from political exploitation.
Social media users have widely condemned these comments, with many Nigerians supporting Soyinka and blasting Charly Boy for what they see as disrespectful statements. Some contend that Charly Boy’s remarks were improper in both tone and substance, even though they acknowledge that Soyinka’s recent political remarks are worth discussing.
Deeper divisions in society can be seen in the heightened discussions surrounding this occurrence, which centers on the proper deference to prominent individuals and the limits of free expression. Charly recently criticized President Bola Bola Tinubu’s administration for proposing N54,000 as the minimum wage at a meeting with labor unions on Tuesday.
The offer, according to Charly Boy, a Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM) and affectionately known as Area Fada, really infuriated him. He claimed that the government was mocking Nigerian citizens in addition to insulting them.
