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Sowore Condemns ‘Xenophobia, Ethnic-Baiting’ In Lagos Over Charly Boy Bus Stop Renaming, Says Same Tactics Used Against Fela Kuti

July 27, 2025
NEWS

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised an opinion article written by Mrs. Ebunola Adebusoye, who backed the decision to rename the Charly Boy Bus Stop in Lagos.

The bus stop, originally named after veteran entertainer and activist Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, was recently renamed Baddo in honour of indigenous rapper Olamide Adedeji, also known as Baddo. The renaming was carried out by the outgoing Chairman of the Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Kolade Alabi David.

Sowore, in a statement posted on his X handle, rejected the move and lashed out at the justification provided by Adebusoye, accusing her of promoting ethnic division, falsehoods, and political loyalty to godfathers.

In a post shared via his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, Sowore described Adebusoye’s comments as “a diatribe laced with xenophobia, political cowardice, and ethnic-baiting,” accusing her of attempting to weaponise culture to curry favour with political power brokers.

Sowore began by noting that he had never heard of the group Adebusoye claimed to represent — the “Indigenous Lagos Teachers Association” — but granted it the benefit of the doubt. Regardless of its legitimacy, he said her submission reflected a broader agenda of ethnic dominance and intolerance.

“What ‘Mrs. Ebunola Adebusoye nee @jidesanwoolu did was use falsehoods, bitterness, and insecurity to trigger ethnic purity,” Sowore wrote, “whereas this is just a weak attempt to create political allegiance to the godfather of Lagos in Abuja, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT and his Lagos boys.”

He likened the attacks on Charly Boy to the historical persecution of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, recalling the state-backed vilification, destruction of his property, and eventual erasure attempts after his death.

“The same argument they offered in hounding @AreaFada1 was also used against Fela… They claim he didn’t pay rent, that he was a bad influence on the youth, that he was harassing his neighbors… and next, they burnt down Kalakuta Republic and reassigned his property to the State.”

“When Fela Kuti died, his Ikeja Shrine was reportedly converted to a church in the place now known as the ‘Computer Village,’ it should have been ‘Fela’s Village,’” Sowore added.

He argued that, like with Fela, the attacks on Charly Boy were nothing more than “the typical strategy to criminalize creative dissent and try to silence those who challenge authoritarianism.”

“The truth remains that Lagos is NOT a kingdom; it is a city of the people,” Sowore asserted. “The Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Hausa, Ibibio, Brazilian returnees, the Saros-Sierra Leoneans, and many others built Lagos City’s greatness. No tribe owns Lagos more than those who live in it and make it breathe.”

He also accused those behind the ethnic rhetoric of being the same people who displace indigene Lagosians when land becomes valuable.

“They make you feel like they care about the indigenes of Lagos, yet they are the first to dislodge them from their natural habitats with bulldozers when ‘non-indigenes’ crave pricey landed property/ies,” he said.

Adebusoye’s Article

The controversy stems from an article written by Mrs. Ebunola Adebusoye titled "Charly Boy Does Not Deserve a Bus Stop in Lagos." In the article, she expressed strong disapproval of naming a bus stop after Charly Boy, calling it “an attempt to glorify immorality of the highest order.”

Adebusoye, who said she received approval from her group’s general secretary to express her personal opinion, accused Charly Boy of antisocial behaviour, including drug use, incitement of violence, and harassment during his years of residence in Gbagada, Lagos.

“Charly Boy lived in this area as a little beast. He tormented the residents, turned the place into a jungle, a hub for hard drugs including cocaine and hooliganism,” she claimed.

She also accused him of disrespecting Yoruba traditions, owing rent for seven years, and contributing nothing of value to the Lagos community.

Adebusoye’s criticism extended to Sowore himself. She questioned the legitimacy of his education, activism, and presidential ambition.

She also claimed Sowore was attempting to erase indigenous Lagos history by suggesting Lagos belongs to all Nigerians.

“Some irresponsible Yoruba people claim Lagos belongs to everyone. That is an insult and an assault on us whose ancestors own the land,” she wrote, warning: “We hereby caution and warn those who think they can continue to spit on Lagos heritage to beware of the wrath of our ancestors and at the fullness of time, we shall challenge them BY ALL MEANS NECESSARY.”

"Why the scripts haven’t changed"

Sowore dismissed Adebusoye’s rant as a “baseless attack” filled with “falsehoods, bitterness, and insecurity,” and accused her of regurgitating propaganda scripts reminiscent of past authoritarian eras.

“These show exactly why Nigeria is stuck, because those who should be retired into silence are screaming the loudest with poison-laced tongues,” he wrote.

Reaffirming his position, he insisted the fight is bigger than a bus stop—it is about the right to free expression, inclusive identity, and resistance to oppressive narratives.

“Ask yourself why the scripts haven’t changed,” Sowore urged. “#RevolutionNow.”

[color=orange]SaharaReporters[/color]

He likened the attacks on Charly Boy to the historical persecution of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, recalling the state-backed vilification, destruction of his property, and eventual erasure attempts after his death.

There is no amount of renaming will make people to change the name a particular place is called.

Third mainland bridge was named after IBB, today it’s still called third mainland bridge.. What of the second Niger bridge that was named after Buhari, ?,

Renaming street names is the highest level of parochial mentality these people have

So says Sowore the double agent

Tinubu supporters who are in the minority in Lagos are setting the state up for future political realignment. When Tinubu loses Aso Rock, he'll likely lose Lagos also. The next President may be forced to declare a state of emergency to get rid of thugs and prevent imminent violence due to rising political tensions, and this move will be backed by the majority. The handwriting is on the wall, you don't need a prophet to tell you.

Lagos is Nigeria's most cosmopolitan city and no single group is allowed to create hostility for others in order to dominate. That is exactly what Tinubu supporters are doing, which is dangerous for Nigeria's development (which Lagos is at the epicenter of) and even prohibited by Nigeria's constitution. If you can't handle leadership entrusted to you, it will be given to someone else and you can watch from the sidelines.

Lagos politicians playing a dangerous, suppressive and divisive game against the Nigerian masses as awhole.

Even Olamide should reject this controversial and divisive recognition and ask for another place within gbagada/bariga named after him.

U don't pull down one ICON to push up another ICON.

It's not done.

The woman was fast to drag the igbos into the discuss...

Her level of hatred for the igbos can't be quenched.. but sh will still see them progress and marry her daughter and even buy up her father land... It's called hardwork not land grabbing


If u know the amount of monies the igbos have lost to Yoruba land scammers u will fiant of alarm/grief..

Sh mentioned no street being names in the southeast with Yoruba names...

Now I ask.. the yorubas refused to live in the south eat or even do business there... U can't lick oranges regularly if u don't own orange farm...


Nepotism and tribalism won't kill some.ppl

How the most acclaimed educated tribe got reduced to bunch of tribal bigots for the ambition of an unscrupulous is baffling.

We will make sure we send Tinubu back to iragbiji with his bigotry and agbero supporters, he’s setting bad precedent in Nigeria political space, look at what is happening in Lagos state today

Tinubumustgo:
How the most acclaimed educated tribe got reduced to bunch of tribal bigots for the ambition of an unscrupulous is baffling.

Tinubu ambition has really expose them, and made them become very emotional and intolerant

If it is true that Fela Anikulapo Kuti neither owned nor pay rent where he lived then Charley Boy and many other micreants have precedents for not paying rents to their landlords in Lagos.

The truth remains that Lagos is NOT a kingdom; it is a city of the people,” Sowore asserted. “The Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Hausa, Ibibio, Brazilian returnees, the Saros-Sierra Leoneans, and many others built Lagos City’s greatness. No tribe owns Lagos more than those who live in it and make it breathe.”

Tinubu will not be president forever. In fact, his tenure will be over before we even realize it. This country and Lagos will remain, but how they will remain is what we don’t know yet....

Putindbutt:
"He likened it to Fela and says Lagos does not belong to one tribe"... this is why they slapped him in Lagos, it seems he needs more. You hardly see him lead protests in Lagos but Abuja, he knows the Lagos boys can slap his face black and blue.

As if you have not been slapped in Lagos before. especially someone who work as a conductor in Lagos, ire oo

Ofunaofu:
Tinubu will not be president forever. In fact, his tenure will be over before we even realize it. This country and Lagos will remain, but how they will remain is what we don’t know yet....

After Tinubu leaves in 2031, what are you going to do?, use biafran army to invade Lagos? 🤣🤣

Ezeama400:
There is no amount of renaming will make people to change the name a particular place is called.

Third mainland bridge was named after IBB, today it’s still called third mainland bridge.. What of the second Niger bridge that was named after Buhari, ?,

Renaming street names is the highest level of parochial mentality these people have

E dey pain you gan. Goggle map sef don change the names. 🤣

Sowore, no matter what you say or do, the bitter people do not rate you, they will still insult and attack you tomorrow if you throw bOmb at their Agulu hero. You didn't raise your voice when Anambra Govt changed Abakaliki street in Anambra. Abeg park well.

Wahabfuture:
We will make sure we send Tinubu back to iragbiji with his bigotry and agbero supporters, he’s setting bad precedent in Nigeria political space, look at what is happening in Lagos state today

It is Fela that set bad precedent for allegedly not paying rent to his landlord. These miscreants today don’t pay their landlords only to offer to buy the properties after denying their landlord for many years. This they do for many struggling landlords whose only hope of surviving is to use their properties as pension.

zero8zero:
After Tinubu leaves in 2031, what are you going to do?, use biafran army to invade Lagos? 🤣🤣

Then, the bitter scales of ethnîc and tribál bîgótry will fall from your eyes, and you’ll realize that it was never used for your benefit but for the benefit of those who ensure you remain perpetually poor and subdued, while they continue to feed fat on the common wealth of the people

This issue will continue to raise dust 😏

what's the NOISE about ? Let everybody answer him/their papa name . STOP dragging 😒 🙄 being a land grabbers . STOP being a nu isance.RESPECT yasef/your host.


Signed.....
Maziobinnaokija

Ass Chief Priest.
OKIJA SHRINE

They feed on and exude tribalism. Afterwards, they turn around to call others tribalists.

Watch the tribal line they will tow in 2027. They will still turn to accuse Peter Obi who was never tribalistic of tribalism.

Na their way.

givedemwotowoto:
Tinubu supporters who are in the minority in Lagos are setting the state up for future political realignment. When Tinubu loses Aso Rock, he'll likely lose Lagos also. The next President may be forced to declare a state of emergency to get rid of thugs and prevent imminent violence due to rising political tensions, and this move will be backed by the majority. The handwriting is on the wall, you don't need a prophet to tell you.

Lagos is Nigeria's most cosmopolitan city and no single group is allowed to create hostility for others in order to dominate. That is exactly what Tinubu supporters are doing, which is dangerous for Nigeria's development (which Lagos is at the epicenter of) and even prohibited by Nigeria's constitution. If you can't handle leadership entrusted to you, it will be given to someone else and you can watch from the sidelines.

Your fore father azikwe in all his miserable lives wish this against southwest, ojukwu attempted it. Abeg explain to your people how they both ended ??

Ofunaofu:
Then, the bitter scales of ethnîc and tribál bîgótry will fall from your eyes, and you’ll realize that it was never used for your benefit but for the benefit of those who ensure you remain perpetually poor and subdued, while they continue to feed fat on the common wealth of the people

It does not concern him bros. He prefers to suffer and die as long as his "corruption stinking god's" ego is massaged.

Ofunaofu:
Tinubu will not be president forever. In fact, his tenure will be over before we even realize it. This country and Lagos will remain, but how they will remain is what we don’t know yet....

Omo this tears will last another 50 years in inland!

Ofunaofu:
Tinubu will not be president forever. In fact, his tenure will be over before we even realize it. This country and Lagos will remain, but how they will remain is what we don’t know yet....

Omo this tears will last another 50 years in southeast !

shivisee:
Omo this tears will last another 50 years in inland!

Will Tinubu remain president for 50yrs?

ijaws,hausa,live peaceful PEACE with their host.They NEVER for once drag/grab person land like my kinsmen. As I write Ghanaian are chasing my blodas up/down

MaziObinnaokija:
ijaws,hausa,live peaceful PEACE with their host.They NEVER for once drag/grab person land like my kinsmen. As I write Ghanaian are chasing my blodas up/down

The earliest census records during the colonial days show that Igbos were not existing in Lagos o. The tribes that should be beating their chest are not doing so because that kind of disease no dey their blood.

The Xenophobia in South Africa against Nigerians is as a result of this same people.