Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, says he has no regrets about the life he has lived as he turns 75 years old.
He shared this during an interview in Abuja.
Charly Boy once wanted to be a priest but left the seminary after just one year. He said he chose a different path from his father, who was a respected judge.
Instead of following in his father’s footsteps, he chose music and activism.
He said his father had hoped he would take a high-paying job, like the one he helped him get at Mobil Oil, but Charly Boy turned it down.
This caused tension between them for many years.
However, Charly Boy said he doesn’t regret it because those experiences made him stronger and more fulfilled.
“I just wanted to be different from my father,” he said.
“Even when things were hard, I learned from them. I’m not focused on money. I’m simple, humble, and thankful for my upbringing.”
He said he was spending his birthday resting at home, not having a party, just receiving calls and messages.
Charly Boy also announced that he will soon release his book titled “999”.
The book tells his life story how he rejected his parents’ plans, fought personal battles, and even got married four times before the age of 36.
Born on June 19, 1950, Charly Boy is the son of late Supreme Court Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.
He is known for being a singer, TV presenter, actor, and activist. He became popular with The Charly Boy Show and served as a judge on Nigerian Idol.
He is also a former president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria.
Charly Boy has been married to Diane, an African-American singer and former fashion designer, for over 40 years.
Together, they have children.
Over the years, he has stood up for the rights of ordinary Nigerians. In the 1990s, he led a protest for military pensioners.
In 2017, he led the “Our Mumu Don Do” movement, calling on then-President Muhammadu Buhari to return to Nigeria or resign after spending over 60 days abroad on medical leave.