In a move that sparked widespread debate across Nigeria’s cultural and legal spaces, the iconic Charly Boy Bus Stop in Lagos has been renamed “Baddo Bus Stop” by the Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA), in honor of Nigerian rapper and music mogul, Olamide Adedeji, popularly known as “Baddo.” The decision has drawn strong reactions, none more pointed than from the bus stop’s original namesake, veteran entertainer and activist Charles Oputa, aka Charly Boy.
Reacting to the news, Charly Boy took to social media to express both his surprise and defiance at the renaming. In a statement that has since gone viral, he said:
“You can rename a place… but you can’t rename a legacy. You can replace the signboard… but you can’t erase the spirit… Area Fada no dey finish.”
Charly Boy further explained that the original naming of the bus stop was not politically motivated or an official government designation. Instead, it emerged organically as a tribute from the people of Bariga and Gbagada in recognition of his cultural and social impact in the area. The entertainer, known for his activism and larger-than-life personality, maintains that while signs can change, the emotional and historical connection to his legacy cannot be overwritten.
The change came as part of a sweeping initiative by the Bariga LCDA to rename several streets and public landmarks after prominent figures. Alongside Olamide, other namesakes included Afrojuju pioneer Sir Shina Peters, Fuji legend King Sunny Ade, and even Nigerian-born England footballer Bukayo Saka.
The move to rename Charly Boy Bus Stop, however, stood out for many, as it involved replacing the name of a long-standing, well-recognized cultural figure with that of a younger artist still in his prime. Olamide, while deeply respected and deserving in the eyes of many, is seen as a contemporary whose tribute might have been more fitting in a newly designated location. While many support honoring Olamide, a proud son of Bariga who has achieved international success, others see the change as an unnecessary rewrite of cultural memory.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, criticized the action as unconstitutional. He argued that local councils do not have the unilateral authority to rename landmarks without due process, including community input and legal gazetting. According to Falana, such decisions are under the purview of local governments not LCDA chairpersons acting independently.
Dr. Monday Ubani, a former vice president of the Nigerian Bar Association, echoed these sentiments. He warned that the trend of renaming landmarks without broad consultation or appreciation of their cultural context risked deepening ethnic divisions and undermining Lagos’s cosmopolitan identity.
Some residents have pointed out that the name “Charly Boy Bus Stop” is so embedded in local culture that it will likely persist, regardless of official changes. Others suggested that a better approach would have been to name a new street or park after Olamide, rather than replacing an existing landmark tied to a different kind of legacy.
This controversy highlights a deeper tension in Nigerian urban policy and cultural identity. It raises questions about who gets to write history, how public space should be shared, and the importance of honoring legacy without disregarding those who came before.
