Lagos residents have strongly rebuked veteran entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, after his controversial comments on social media comparing Nigerian youths’ enthusiasm for Hilda Baci’s Guinness World Record jollof rice feat to political uprisings in Nepal.
“Una remember recently, youths of Nepal overthrew dem government. But for Naija, thousands of youths are queuing for Hilda’s jellof rice,” he wrote.
The remarks quickly ignited backlash, with many Lagosians accusing him of attempting to incite unrest in a city that has consistently served as Nigeria’s hub of peace, commerce, and cultural vibrancy. Critics described his comments as “irresponsible and divisive,” especially coming after the Lagos State Government revoked the street once named in his honour, citing misrepresentation of values.
“Charly Boy has failed in music, failed in activism, and now wants to drag Lagos into chaos,” one resident fumed. Others argued that if he seeks disruption, he should begin in his home state of Imo rather than targeting the Yoruba heartland, which has remained peaceful despite Nigeria’s challenges.
For many, the remarks are a desperate ploy for relevance from a man once seen as a cultural rebel but now widely dismissed as a provocateur. “The North already rejected him, the South South ignores him, and now he wants to sow division in the West,” another Lagosian said.
Community leaders and youth groups called on Lagosians to remain vigilant and defend their region from “intruders looking to exploit ethnic fault lines for personal attention.”
Lagos, they stressed, must continue to project resilience, unity, and progress—values far removed from Charly Boy’s brand of disruption.
