Veteran Nigerian entertainer and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has opened up about a very personal and emotional experience in his life, revealing how the renaming of a bus stop once named after him almost pushed him into depression.
The 74-year-old activist, who has been a major voice in Nigeria’s entertainment and political scenes for decades, disclosed that the sudden change of “Charly Boy Bus Stop” to “Baddo Bus Stop” was a heavy emotional blow. He admitted that it affected him so deeply that he was forced to briefly leave Nigeria in search of peace of mind and mental stability.
Sharing his ordeal, Charly Boy confessed that the incident left him feeling broken and drained, almost at the edge of depression. In his words, he expressed his pain and frustration, saying:
“Life is a bitch, then we die. I had to escape Nigeria just to save my sanity.”
In order to cope with the emotional toll, Charly Boy revealed that he travelled to Europe to visit his brother, veteran musician Dr Alban. His plan was to spend three weeks away from the noise, recharging and rebooting his energy. However, he admitted that despite running from the situation, his connection to Nigeria pulled him back sooner than he expected.
“I was to spend three weeks recharging and rebooting. But after just ten days, body begin scratch me like say I forget something for Nigeria, the same place wey dey give me sleepless nights. Couldn’t even complete two weeks, I run come back,” he recalled.
Although he humorously described the experience as feeling like “jazz,” Charly Boy made it clear that depression is not something to joke about. He stressed that many Nigerians are silently battling depression without any outlet or support system.
“Depression na real matter. I was lucky to take a break and come back refreshed. But how many people get that kind privilege? Some people no even get where to run to. Dem dey stuck with their pain, smiling on the outside, but bleeding inside,” he stated passionately.
The self-styled Area Fada went further to use his story as a wake-up call, urging Nigerians not to see mental health struggles as weakness or taboo. He encouraged people to speak up, seek help, and not suffer in silence.
“If Area Fada fit admit say sometimes e dey choke, you too no need to pretend. Speak up, breathe, find your way back. Life go still test us, but make we no let am break us. My people, here’s wishing you a happier month. It shall be well with us,” he added in his message of hope.
Charly Boy’s revelation has stirred conversations across social media, with many praising him for his honesty and for using his personal struggles to shed light on the importance of mental health awareness in Nigeria.