Veteran entertainer and social activist Charly Boy has shared a lighthearted account of a memorable moment he experienced with former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo during a recent birthday celebration in Abeokuta.
In a post written in a mix of Pidgin English and reflective prose, Charly Boy said he has recently developed a deeper admiration for the former president, describing him as “a man of many parts.” He added that his connection with Obasanjo sometimes reminds him of his late father, who was reportedly an old friend of the former leader.
According to the entertainer, the event was filled with dignitaries, laughter, and celebration as guests gathered to honour Obasanjo. The atmosphere reportedly shifted when the former president entered the hall, drawing standing acknowledgements and warm greetings from attendees.
Charly Boy said he decided to present his birthday gift in his own theatrical style — balancing it on his head as he walked slowly toward the high table where Obasanjo was seated.
“I carry my birthday gift. But I no carry am normal way. I balance am for my head gidigba — village boy style,” he wrote, describing the moment.
When he finally reached the former president and presented the gift, Charly Boy said Obasanjo responded with an unexpected gesture by planting a kiss on his forehead, a moment that reportedly sent the hall into laughter.
The entertainer described the moment as one of honour and warmth rather than formal ceremony, noting that celebrations are sometimes defined by human connection rather than speeches or grand displays.
Obasanjo, who served as Nigeria’s military head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as a democratically elected president from 1999 to 2007, remains one of the country’s most influential elder statesmen.
The event, held in Abeokuta, the former president’s hometown, drew prominent guests and admirers who gathered to celebrate his life and legacy. Charly Boy concluded that the moment reflected respect for a man whose life, he said, has weathered many storms while remaining a towering figure in Nigeria’s history.
