Charly Boy reacts as Lagos renames Bariga Bus Stop in honour of Olamide
Veteran entertainer and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has responded to the Lagos State Government’s decision to rename the Charly Boy Bus Stop in Bariga to Olamide Baddo Bus Stop in honour of rapper and Bariga native, Olamide Adedeji.
The renaming is part of a wider initiative by the state government to commemorate notable Nigerians, especially in the entertainment and sports sectors, by renaming key roads and landmarks.
Reacting via his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, Charly Boy expressed defiance, insisting that while a name can be changed on a signboard, a legacy cannot be erased.
“You can rename a place… but you can’t rename a legacy,” he wrote. “You can replace the signboard… but you can’t erase the spirit.”
He framed the renaming as a symbolic act of fear, saying it reflected discomfort with a man who “refused to bow” and “challenged the oppressors.”
“This is not just about a bus stop. This is about fear. Fear of a boy who refused to bow. Fear of a man who didn’t beg the system to be accepted.”
Charly Boy reminded the public that the original naming of the bus stop was organic—bestowed by the people, not by political authorities.
“Bariga, Gbagada, the entire Lagos knows the truth. That name Charly Boy Bus Stop was not given by politicians. It was named by the people—the same people Fada fought for, walked with, and empowered.” he said in pigin english.
He concluded with a strong reaffirmation of his influence and enduring presence:
“Legacy isn’t on a signboard. It’s in the hearts you changed, the voices you awakened, and the fear you planted in corrupt souls… Area Fada no dey finish.”
The renaming of the Bariga landmark forms part of a broader effort by the Lagos State Government to honour celebrated Nigerian figures across various sectors.
Some of the newly renamed locations include:
Ilaje Road → King Sunny Ade Road, in honour of the Juju music legend.
Bariga Road → Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way, after the current Nigerian President and former Lagos Governor.
Community Road, Akoka → Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Road, for the sitting governor of Lagos.
Ajidagan Street → Olamide Adedeji (Baddo) Street.
Ifeanyi Street → Abolore Akande (9ice) Street.
Ayodele Street, Ladi-Lak → Tony Tetuila Street, for the Afro-pop veteran.
Ilojo Crescent, Obanikoro → Bukayo Saka Street, named after the England and Arsenal football star of Nigerian descent.
The initiative has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some users praising the recognition of local icons, while others question the historical context and underlying political motivations of the changes.
