Maverick entertainer, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charlyboy marks his Birthday today, June 19th. Although, the entertainer cum social crusader is very sure of the actual date he was born, he noted in this interview that he cannot remember exactly his actual years of age. In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST’s Esther Ogenyi, the Area Fada who may be attending a surprise party later tonight, as organized by family and friends, let out some hitherto unknown things running through his mind; his wish to have one more bike ride with his late dad, and other sundry issues.

Excerpts…

Considering that today is your birthday, how do you feel about the journey so far, fulfilled?

I feel great. I feel blessed. I thank God always. It’s a mindset thing. I share cloths with my sons sometimes, they tell me what’s in and what’s out. Most of my associates are all young people. In short, I no get wahala. Maybe in the next three years or so, I may become a great grandfather. Now that would be awesome. So I have more than enough to be thankful for. Yes I’m not only fulfilled as a person, I have found an inner peace that I want to share with people who also seek spiritual nourishment.

There are conflicting reports on your actual age. Is this part of the ploy to keep an enigma character?

You may find it funny, but I don’t really know my age; I have given so many dates. I’m confused myself. Ha! How people came about 64 is still a wonder to me. I’m not particular about how old or young the number is. What I care about is the age of my mind and then the age of my body.

From my look, my energy and all, I feel 35 or slightly younger. Then the age of my mind; going by my experiences, my responsibilities, my wisdom and all, I should be about 87. I’m glad I can’t even remember. Yea, you may be right; it might also be a ploy to keep the brand staying enigmatic. One can’t really tell with Charlyboy, abi?

What events or activities have you or your family and friends lined up to use in commemorating today?

I’m really not one for too much celebration because it’s just another day in my book, but because my son and a few of my grandchildren are putting all this together, it’s special for me. They just asked me to show up so I could be entertained. I’m going with my mum; that will be fun for her. Most of it is a surprise.

How do you feel celebrating today without a father you have called your mentor?

I wish he is still around. Miss him an awful lot, I didn’t really know how close we were till he passed on, but I’m happy I made him proud. I’m happy I gave him all the love I could give a friend. I’m glad he died peacefully in my house, and wish it was in my arms. But, my mother is still around so she gets to enjoy me more now.

Do you think the Charlyboy brand fares better with your advancement in age?

Like a very fine wine, I have mature over the years. I been there, done that and have seen pepper, now I know where it’s for me. Certain things are not as important to me as they were many years ago. I have found that inner peace and have hooked up with my happy core. But the boy still lives here. As crazy as weird as they come. There is a time and season for everything, but I will always enjoy pushing people’s buttons. Charlyboy was created to shock timid, myopic and mongoparkish Nigerians into a new way of thinking and mindset. I have always been for the masses and will be till I die, that will never change. The ability to shock and awe will never go away. No, I have not simmered down as Charlyboy, but I believe that more of me as Charles Emeka Oputa is now coming out than Charlyboy. But people have always been more interested in my antics than my message. They rather talk more about me taking a nap in my casket than me counseling drug addicts or mentoring damaged youths. So not to worry, there will always be something for tongue wagers to talk about. I still dey kampe.

Looking back over the years, what can you say were your major achievements?

Living my life as I see fit and never letting anyone kill my dreams. I have saved a lot of young people from giving up. I have created and mentored a lot of very successful stars today, and I pioneered the Big money wave and respect for the Nigerian artiste.

If you are to have a wish that would come true on account of your birthday today, what would that wish be?

To have one more bike ride with my father.

You recently marked your 37th marriage anniversary. Can you tell us a little about the challenges and how you were able to manage same?

Marriage is a very fragile institution now in Nigeria, but I have been extremely lucky, though it hasn’t really been a bed of roses like some people would believe. However, God took pity on me and gave me a woman He ‘custom built’ for me. You know before I married Diane, I had tried three times without success. We are just two determined people who want to make it work. It’s a lot of hard work and perseverance, along with a lot of bullshit. Rice can never be beans and beans can never be rice. If you like cook them in the same pot, they will always be different. They’ll still perform their different functions, what you will get is a different taste from the mixture. That’s marriage, what you get is not as a result of only you anymore but a mixture of two. You’ve got to take it as it comes. What counts in making a happy marriage is not so much how compatible you are, but how you deal with each other’s incompatibility. Gbam!

You have kept to a particular artistic lifestyle for several years, how did you sustain this despite people’s shallow understanding of the art?

I no send anybody, no one can put me down or shut me up. Even in the beginning when my father didn’t understand and thought I was wasting my life ,it was my tremendous focus, my tenacity, consistency and my never say die attitude that won his respect. How many times did he apologise to me? that’s why we became the best of friends. I don’t follow trends or society dictates. I set my own path and everyone follows, I have been that way since childhood, so doing Charlyboy was second nature. I have a tough skin and a strong belief in myself. You wan try?

How would you advise young people whose inspiration and desires are limited by societal norms, considering that you are relatively a norm breaker?

Never let anyone kill your dreams.