Charly Boy opens up on regrets at 75

Veteran entertainer and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has said he has no regrets about the choices he made in life, including turning his back on convention, rebelling against expectations, and walking the path of activism and self-expression.

The outspoken showbiz legend made the remark in Abuja on Thursday, June 19, 2025, as he marked his 75th birthday.

Speaking candidly about his life journey, Charly Boy revealed that he was originally set to become a Catholic priest but left the seminary after just one year. According to him, that decision marked the beginning of a lifelong journey of defiance and self-discovery.

“I only wanted to break out of my father’s shadow,” he said.

Charly Boy, whose late father was renowned Supreme Court Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, said he was determined to chart a different course in life — one that would lead him away from law and into the world of music, activism, and the streets.

“While my father was a legal luminary, I became his exact opposite. I chose music, I chose the streets, and I chose to speak for the oppressed. It came at a cost, but I have no regrets,” he declared.

The maverick recalled how he turned down a high-paying job arranged for him at Mobil Oil and Gas by his influential father after returning from the United States. That act of defiance, he said, created a long-standing rift between father and son.

“Rejecting that plum job provoked serious anger from my father. It created a beef between us that lasted for years. But I stood my ground,” CharlyBoy said.

Now a celebrated voice for the voiceless and a symbol of artistic freedom, Charly Boy said every twist and turn of his life has contributed to who he is today — strong, fulfilled, and unrepentantly different.

“Even the bad experiences came with lessons. I have no regrets. Life has taught me resilience, purpose, and authenticity.”

As he clocks 75, the ‘Area Fada’ is being hailed by fans and admirers for staying true to himself and consistently using his voice to challenge injustice and inspire generations.