Veteran entertainer and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy or Area Fada, has broken his silence on the emotional toll following the controversy surrounding the renaming of the Lagos bus-stop once named after him.
The location, previously called Charly Boy Bus-Stop, was recently renamed Olamide Bus-Stop, sparking debates as several streets and bus-stops named after prominent Igbo figures were changed to Yoruba names amidst tribal sentiments.
At the height of the controversy, Charly Boy had boldly stated: “They can change a bus-stop name but my legacy can’t be changed.”
Opening up on the aftermath, the activist revealed that he had to take a personal break abroad to preserve his mental health. According to him, the situation weighed heavily on him and could have affected his well-being.
“I travelled abroad before Nigeria happen to me. Didn’t want to drown in people’s madness,” he said.
Despite being away, Charly Boy admitted that he constantly longed to return home. “The same environment wey dey give me sleepless nights was still calling me back,” he revealed.
Speaking further, he emphasized the reality of mental health struggles, confessing that he was fortunate enough to step away and return to Nigeria feeling refreshed.
“Depression is real, and I was lucky enough to have somewhere to go and reset. But many people don’t have that privilege,” he added.
He stressed the importance of open conversations about mental health in Nigeria, noting that “mental health is no joke, and we need to talk about these things.”
