LAGOS, NIGERIA – Veteran entertainer and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has sparked a firestorm of reactions after a scathing critique of prominent activists Omoyele Sowore and Deji Adeyanju.
In a move to reassert his seniority and legacy, the “Area Fada” dismissed the duo as “fake people” who do not belong in the same social or political class as him.
“My Son is 53” — The Seniority Argument
Charly Boy sought to correct the public perception that his stage name reflects his age or maturity. Emphasizing his status as a patriarch, he revealed that his first son is an Associate Professor who is already 53 years old.
“When you talk about Charly Boy people think I’m still a boy. I’m not a boy o, that’s why I’m the Area Fada,” he stated. He argued that his decades of consistency and his family’s achievements place him on a pedestal far above his younger contemporaries.
Attacks on Sowore and Adeyanju
The entertainer was blunt in his assessment of contemporary activism, labeling both Sowore and Adeyanju as people he considers beneath him. He suggested that while some began their journeys with good intentions, they eventually became “nasty” or compromised.
“I’ve seen really fake people, like a Sowore, like Deji Adeyanju,” he declared. “These are people I don’t feel are in my class. These are people beneath me.”
Social Media Backlash
The remarks have triggered an immediate wave of counter-accusations. Supporters of Deji Adeyanju have been quick to revisit past controversies involving the Area Fada, including allegations regarding his political neutrality during the 2019 elections.
Critics argue that age and family pedigree do not exempt an activist from public scrutiny, while others have defended Charly Boy’s right to protect his legacy after over 40 years in the spotlight.
As the debate rages on social media, neither Sowore nor Adeyanju has issued a formal rebuttal to the “beneath my class” comment, though their supporters continue to trade words with the “Area Fada” loyalists.
