Charly Boy also wondered why family and close friends of the respected professor are allowing politicians to exploit his condition
By Kehinde Okeowo
Veteran singer and actor, Charles Oputa better known as Charly Boy has advised Nigerians not to take whatever Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, says seriously any longer.
He gave the advice via his Instagram page, while alleging that Soyinka, who turns 90 in a few days, might be suffering from brain deterioration due to ageing.
The maverick singer went on to say the possible age related ailment could be the reason for the professor’s recent rhetorics and actions.
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The 73-year-old thespian, however, added that what should concern Nigerians is why Soyinka’s family and close friends are allowing desperate politicians to exploit his condition.
Speaking via his social media page, Charly Boy said: “Prof. Wole Soyinka is aged over 80yrs, even tending towards 90yrs. For his age, some level of brain deterioration is not unexpected. His rhetorics and actions in recent times is suggestive of deteriorating brain desease, and as such he shouldn’t be taken too seriously.
“What we shld be worried about as well-meaning Nigerians, is how his family and close friends can’t ward off agents of desperate politicians who are bent on exploiting his medical situation to their advantage, no matter how low it sinks the once respected Nobel laureate.”
After the post surfaced on social media, it led to backlash from some of his followers who found his comment insulting.
An IG user identified as @Imd247 wrote: “@areafada1 you will surely grow old someday, those hailing you now for insulting an elder will surely be waiting to do same to you that’s on point”
Another netizen, @steelhound_kennel also said, “@areafada1 I think you could have made your point without insults, people look up to you. I believe we can de-escalate a volatile situation if we really want to keep our eyes on the ball, but to start speaking on people’s mental health with backhanded compliments isn’t savoury. Politics is planning and strategy, social media insults would achieve that. People listen to you, mobilize them in a way that works, votes will not be counted based on social media insults and posts. Peace”
