By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Social crusader and music icon, Charles Oputa popularly known as ‘Charly Boy’ has said he will no longer be involved in street protests even as he has lampooned the authorities for the suspension of the operation of #Twitter in Nigeria.
Speaking on Channels Television weekend programme Sunrise Saturday, the popular Nigerian musician revealed that he has decided to stop leading street protests because of his age.
Said he: “There is time for everything so at three scores and ten (70) years, I will no longer lead street protests against the ills of the society. I am not getting younger hence I have made this decision”.
But the flamboyant musician known for his big motorbikes and pierced bodies disclosed that he has not stopped speaking truth to power, pointing out that as the “President of Frustrated Nigerians”, he still interacts and interfaces with the suffering Nigerian youths to give them hope in the face of hopelessness.
Asked how he is interacting with the Nigerian youths when the microblogging giants, #Twitter’s operation in Nigeria has been suspended by the federal government, the fiery activist said he is still tweeting and hanging out with in the social media with the youths.
“I am still tweeting. If you don’t know how to tweet, ‘I go teach you after the programme (sic). People of the 17th and 18th centuries and medieval ages don’t want us to tweet. Well, it’s a case of people from the medieval ages against the millennium youths. It will not work”, Oputa stated.
On his musical career which seems to be in the limbo, ‘Charlie Boy’ argued that he is still very active, saying that he will soon drop a new work from his music genre.
According to him: “I have not done business for a long time now because of taking care of my parents. I took a long break to attend to my mother and father whom I gave too much trouble while growing up.
“I went to my village (Oguta, Imo state) to bring them to my house to look after them. I have to say it was a good decision because I am happy that I nursed them until both died in my arms. My dad died first then my mother followed later. I am happy I took care of them”.
‘Charlie Boy’ is the only son of Nigeria’s legal luminary and retired Supreme Court Justice, Ogbueshi Chukwudifu Akunne Oputa of Justice Oputa Panel fame.