Nigerian singer, Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has attacked Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, saying he can never be compared with Chinua Achebe.
Charly Boy, also known as ‘Area Fada’ took to his Instagram page to attack Soyinka for daring to attack the’Obidients’ movement and criticising Labour Party’s vice presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed over his inciting interview on Channels TV.
He said Soyinka had lost his respect, saying gone were the days he used to give him the kind of respect he had for his father, late Justice C.A. Oputa.
He wrote: “The kin respect I had for dis man, was almost the kind of respect I had for the late Justice C.A.Oputa, The Socrates of the Supreme Court.
“It has finally dawned on me that Soyinka can never be the man Chinua Achebe was.
“Look at a man many Nigerians put on such high pedestal reducing himself to a boyiboyi for criminal politicians. What a f..king big shame”
Soyinka had on Friday described the ‘Obidients’ movement as one of the most repulsive, off-putting concoctions he ever encountered in any political arena.
The Nobel Laureate, in a statement on Friday, titled: “Fascism on Course,” said the instigating contest – Nigerian Democracy 2023 – has witnessed much that is innovative – largely in the retrogressive vein.
“Violence and ethnic profiling. “Spiritual” warfare in the shape of sacrificial rams to keep “disloyal” communities under restraint – in short, intimidation yet again! Easily overlooked however are those missives of violence directed against dissenting voices, real or suspect. Such, for instance, were the virulent attacks and threats to the musician Seun Kuti, his family and iconic music Shrine.
“His crime consisted of nothing more than declaring the name “Obidient” derogatory to his sense of civic dignity and activist history. Such beginnings – and instances are numerous – have culminated in the open intimidation of the Court of Last Resort, even before proceedings have begun. By the way, I do agree with Seun Kuti; ‘Obidients’ is one of the most repulsive, off-putting concoctions I ever encountered in any political arena.
“Some love it however, and this is what freedom is about. Choice. Taste. Free emotions. By contrast, I have no quarrel with “Yes Daddy”. Roman Catholics are used to saying “Yes, Father”. Secularists say “Enh, Baba”. The context and content are what matters, and lies – where established – raise bothersome issues such as Integrity Deficiency,” he said.