Charly Boy Withdraws Respect for Soyinka Over Renaming of National Theatre
Veteran singer and social activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has declared that he will no longer accord respect to Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
This statement was made in reaction to the recent renaming of the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, after Soyinka by President Bola Tinubu.
Charly Boy, known for his critical stance against President Tinubu, shared his sentiments in a post on his official X handle on Friday.
His reaction followed the announcement made by President Tinubu in a tribute celebrating Soyinka’s 90th birthday, where he revealed the renaming of the cultural landmark in the laureate’s honor.
Expressing his disappointment, Charly Boy wrote, “Uncle WOLE I henceforth withdraw all the respect I once had for you. When late Jimmyjohnson talked about you in the 90s, I thought he was only yabbing you. Wow! How some of our MIGHTYs have fallen, for beans, ewa, dodo, is it for rice?”
The renaming of the National Theatre has sparked mixed reactions among the public, with some praising the move as a fitting tribute to one of Nigeria’s most renowned literary figures, while others, like Charly Boy, view it as a politicized gesture.
President Tinubu’s decision to rename the National Theatre in honor of Soyinka was intended to celebrate the playwright’s immense contributions to literature and the arts.
However, it has also highlighted the ongoing political and social debates within the country.
