Mr. Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, aka Charly Boy, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, television presenter, actor and social engineer with lots of controversies in his baggage. Nine years after he released his first book titled "My Private Part" , which talks on everything and anything about him, great grand-father Charly Boy is offering a second book; “999: The Memoir of Charly Boy”, a much more in-depth story of himself with no cover-ups or hypocrisy. Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote the foreword to the book, including Bishop Hassan Kuka and Dele Famuroti.

In a chat with Arts Editors in Lagos, ahead of the book launch in July, Charly Boy who will turn 76 in June, said every reader can relate to the book because a little bit of every one of us is in it. The book also reflects some aspects of his journey as PMAN president.

According to him, the essence of the book is that for anybody who reads it, they can relate to it because a little bit of every one of us is in this book. “The experiences I went through are not alien to anybody. But, when I titled my book 999, some people asked if it is a code or I meant 666. What I really meant to say from the go is that 999 mean the beginning of a new era. So, if you know me in the past, when I fight I must hold weapon and I must draw blood. But, now I have calmed down and old things shall pass away,” he added.

In an excerpt, ‘Charly Boy cracks open the vault of a life lived louder than the society that tried to mute him. Written with street-poetry honesty, the book traces a boy who shared toys with chauffeurs’ children, a teenager who read forbidden books and didn’t go mad, a TV shock-jock who weaponised laughter, and an activist who still collects “dues” for the voiceless. Through prostate battles, boardroom wars, father-son silences and national protests, 999 asks what truly finishes us—failure, or the fear of finishing? Raw, riveting and revolutionary, this is the memoir Nigeria never saw coming—and the mirror every generation needs to hold up to itself.’

In his usual characteristic, Charly Boy wittily recalled his past misdemeanuors, rascality and stubbornness while growing up and studying in the US. “I hate to be told what to do even as a young man in my 20s,” he said firmly insisting that in spite of all this, he believes strongly in hard work, consistency, tenacity and audacity.

In the 1990s, Charly Boy’s most popular television series was The Charly Boy Show, a weekly sketch/variety show with political undertones, which featured music, comedy, and celebrity appearances. Among the cast were Charly Boy’s wife Diane Oputa, actresses Stella Damasus and Mercy Oyebo, singing duo Tunde and Wunmi Obe and actor Patrick Doyle. Also, his Zoom Time featured politicians who in the cause of the programme pretended to ride an imaginary motorbike while imitating the sound of its exhaust pipe zoom, zoom, zoom.

His journey in life

I’ve come a long way. I have been into all manners of crime including shop-lifting, marrying multiple women, substance and drug abuse. But, I discovered early the dangers of drug especially, because I realised what drugs have done to other people. All these experiences were what I went through as a young man. If you’re 24, you can’t be thinking like a 70 -year-old man. It’s not possible. You think like a 24-year-old and behave like a 24-year-old. So, those were all the wildlife in my youthful days and they are all captured in the book.

“All these I poured out in my book. I also talked about how activism started, even though I don’t like to be called an activist because people like Omoyele Sowore have messed up activism. So, I like to be called a social engineer, not an activist.

“The book also reflects some aspects of my journey as PMAN president. But, I think the whole essence of this book is that for anybody who reads it, they can relate to it because a little bit of every one of us is in this book. The experiences I went through are not alien to anybody.

But, when I titled my book 999, some people asked if it is a code or I meant 666. What I really meant to say from the go is that 999 mean the beginning of a new era. So, if you know me in the past, when I fight I must hold weapon and I must draw blood before. But, now I have calmed down.

When I was planning to relocate from the village, Tina Onwudiwe said if I didn’t leave the village, I was going to die. She brought me to Lagos. In fact, she paid for my flight to Lagos and also paid two years house rent for me at Gbagada, Lagos.

His advocacy programmes: Charly Boy Show and Zoom Time

I wanted to do something different to shock the timid and myopic Nigerians. The platforms were breeding grounds for many comedians and musicians. Most of the famous artistes you see today started on the Charly Boy Show including Africa China and Taiwo and Wunmi Obey.

“The fact is that I could talk to any of the presidents or anybody I wanted to talk to. And I did not only speak to them, we went under the guise of we are doing PR for them. But, the fee was nothing less than 16million naira to talk on Charlie Boy Show. And at that time, when TV has not hit us, those were the kind of money I was making per interview. I’m not today’s person. And that’s why this book is important. A lot of people cannot relate with what I did in my earlier years.

Thoughts on reading culture

It’s unfortunate that the book I’ve done, the craziness of it all, and why it stands out is not because I’m telling my story. But, the way, the look and feel of the book, how I was able to put things together was outstanding.

Yes, it’s unfortunate that the reading culture has gone so low, and that’s why I was trying to make it an easy read.

So, readers don’t get bored or get tired, and the stories are exciting anyway. And because of this same piracy issue, that’s why the e-copy is not out.

What’s the difference between My Private Part and 999 in terms of content?

The content is different. 999 is wider, it’s more, it is blunter. And there are a lot of stories in 999 that are not in My Private Part and I went into details. My Private Part didn’t talk much about my struggles. But, 999 did. It’s in-depth.

How long did it take you to put all your records together?

If you want to do some great stuff, don’t rush it. Like in this book, so many writers have gone with my money. I don’t care. Starting from when I had the idea, I started four years ago. But, it took me just a year after a friend messed up and I started from the beginning. Sometimes, bad things turn out to be good things if you give it time.

Your expectations of the impact the book will make on the younger generation

I have always maintained that success is an individual thing. That you have a bag of money does not mean that you will be a successful person. That your father has money does not mean you will be a successful person. It’s how you groom yourself.

When they read my story they will find that there is a little bit of everybody in that book. And they will know that they should desist from some certain habits otherwise it will kill them. And you should know when to run and when to walk.

State of the nation

The leadership we have today is what we deserve because most of us are corrupt in our nature. It’s unfortunate what is happening today. But, I hope that for all the inspiration that I’ve given young people, for all the belief I have in them and all the sweat and suffer, there should be a greater tomorrow. However, I can’t heap all the blames on leadership. What about the followership? For most of us, our mumu na follow come because our mumu no be here.

Great grand-father now in the shoes of your late father

My children are dealing with me. I said I’ve many children, some good, mad and some I don’t want them to bear my name. Some are very good like I was to my father. In fact, I give birth to a whole village as I have 14 grandchildren. I’m a great grandfather. (The Nation)

Update news