Veteran musician and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy or Area Fada, has strongly condemned the decision by the Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) to rename the popular “Charly Boy Bus Stop” in Gbagada, Lagos, to “Baddo Bus Stop.”
The council chairman, Kolade David, had on Friday announced the renaming as part of a street rebranding initiative meant to honour Nigerian entertainers, politicians, and public figures who have contributed positively to the image of Bariga and Nigeria at large.
However, the decision has triggered backlash from many Nigerians, including Charly Boy himself, who took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle to express his outrage. He described the move as a calculated attempt to erase his legacy due to his refusal to conform to political expectations.
“You can rename a place, but you can’t rename a legacy,” he declared in a fiery post. “This is about fear—fear of someone who stood against oppression, who refused to bow to the system.”
He argued that the renaming wasn’t about honour but rather about silencing a dissenting voice:
“This is not just about a bus stop. This is about fear. Fear of a man who didn’t beg the system to be accepted. So what do timid people do? They change the name, like it will wash away their shame.”
Charly Boy emphasized that the bus stop wasn’t named by politicians but by the people of the community, who recognized and appreciated his influence and activism over the years.
“Bariga, Gbagada, the entire Lagos knows the truth. That name was not given by politicians. It was named by the people—the same people Fada fought for, walked with, and empowered,” he wrote.
“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. So go ahead, change the name. But remember—you can’t change the truth. You can’t erase fire. Area Fada no dey finish.”
The renaming has sparked debate on social media, with many users echoing Charly Boy’s sentiments and questioning the legality and intention behind the council’s action.
Legal luminary Femi Falana (SAN) has also weighed in on similar issues recently, faulting the Lagos government’s renaming of streets without following due legal processes.
