I will Take Bullets For Nigerians If Situations Like That Arise - Charley Boy (Details, pics)

Self-acclaimed ‘Area Fada,’ entertainer and social crusader, Charles Oputa fondly referred to as Charly Boy, 66, shares some of his life experiences.

We learnt that during the recent protest you spearheaded whereby you demanded that President Buhari should resume office or resign, you were sprayed with tear gas by the police. How true is the report?

You know you cannot make an omelette without breaking an egg. You cannot be in this kind of struggle and do not expect people to misunderstand you, twist your intentions and roughen you up a little. These are the kind of things that happen especially when you are fighting a good fight and that is what we are doing. I am used to being roughened.

We have a government of lies and deceit; even the police lie. It was on the social media for everyone to see. They said they were trying to protect people against miscreants but who are these miscreants that 150 policemen could not contain and then they began to spray water cannon on just seven people?

Because nobody paid us to come and talk about how we feel that is why our numbers are small. The few people that have embarked on this protest are those that are willing to die for what they believe in and this concerns Nigerians. Enough of all of this rubbish; the government lies, steals and cheats. It is an evil government. Although I have a few good people as friends who happen to be policemen but the truth is that the police is nobody’s friend especially the common people. But there was a report by the police that said they did not touch you instead you fell to the ground when you saw cameras around you…

You called on your fellow celebrities to join in the movement, so far are you impressed at the number of celebrities that has joined the movement? 

The bible says, many are called but few are chosen. If there are only two of us, we are going to keep insisting on the right thing. Don’t forget, I did not start this movement. It was some young Nigerians that started it and they roped me into it. My job as an Area Fada is to guide them because what was missing in the past which made people claim that the youths have gone to sleep is that they did not have the right leadership. I have come out to say that I would take a bullet on their behalf because I feel and believe that this country would only be saved by some exceptional youths. If you look at the trend, the youths in this country have really done Nigeria proud, especially when they are abroad. There are so many Nigerians in Harvard Business School, Nigerian doctors have helped to shape the American health care system; I can go on. So why is it that in our own country, the youths do not have any future? It is because the terrain is polluted and infected by all these criminals. I am happy that I am making that connection with some exceptional youths and I am proud to say that it is just a question of time. We are not looking for a crowd. Like I always say, the people holding Nigeria at its jugular, those who are responsible for the excruciating poverty Nigerians are going through are not up to 50. My own equation is that the people that would rescue this country may not be up to 20 despite the fact that they would try and kill some or throw tear gas at them.

What we are doing is to force a discussion. We want Nigerians to think because the truth is that it is young people that rule the world now, the old people are just there to advise the young; and I am talking about old people with brain. The future belongs to the youth but in Nigeria, it is not so. Normally the government is meant to fear the masses but in Nigeria, the reverse is the case. The government is supposed to be afraid of us and they would soon begin to fear us because all these things that are happening in Nigeria must stop. We cannot have just a few people benefitting at the expense of the nation.

The agitation is for the president to either resume or resign, do you think your protest would make any impact?

I cannot run but I can find someone who is qualified to do the job. I am too old for that. I have been privileged to meet some wonderful people in this country and I know it is doable. I am not wired to run for office, what I am able to do is to fix things, inspire and motivate people. I am a teacher and that is who I am.

Since you are so passionate about good governance, why don’t you run for a political office? Healthy lifestyle, contentment, discipline combined with a peaceful and simple life. I am always on my lane; I’m in no competition with anybody. I watch what I eat and work out a lot. My friends are all under 40 years old and they inspire me. I think to a great extent, I am living my life on purpose. My family has really kept me grounded, like I always say, family is my rock. I love my role as a son, father, husband, lover, grandfather and very soon by God’s grace, great grandfather to be. I love my life and my introverted nature has enabled me to stay focused. At 66 years, you still remain very active and agile, what is the secret? 

Everything I have done as Charly Boy has all been contrived. As a communicator, I shape people’s mindset on what to think, how they see the brand. And for a very long time, I hid my real self from the public until I published and wrote that scrap book, ‘My Private Part.’ Charly Boy was created to shock timid, myopic, arrogantly ignorant, and ‘mongo-parkish’ Nigerians into being their authentic selves. Yes, I kept my age away from the press for a long time because I never wanted to let the boy in me go away.

We learnt you were in seminary to be a priest, what made you opt out?

 I wanted to be many things before I finally gained my independence. Yes I wanted so badly to be a priest because my father abused me with too much religion. I went to morning mass every day for 22 years, served as an altar boy. Bible class is what you dare not miss in my house then. So I naturally thought that being a priest would be such a cool thing to do back then, but it was clear to me that I had no intention to stop sinning any more. So, after six months in the seminary, I ran away. I had a wandering manhood and that wouldn’t match a life of celibacy, would it?