Veteran entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy or Area Fada, has opened up about the emotional toll of the busstop rename saga and how he took time off to safeguard his mental health.
The controversy began when Charly Boy busstop in Lagos was renamed Olamide busstop, alongside other streets and busstops originally named after Igbos, which were changed to Yoruba names amidst tribal sentiments.
At the time, Charly Boy insisted that while names could be altered, his legacy could not be erased.
However, he has now revealed that the situation deeply affected him, prompting him to travel abroad to avoid breaking down.
“Didn’t want to drown in people’s madness,” he explained, adding that the break helped him cope, even though he constantly felt the urge to return to Nigeria “the same environment wey dey give me sleepless nights.”
The activist stressed that depression is real, noting that he was fortunate to step away and return refreshed, unlike many Nigerians who lack such opportunities.
He urged that conversations around mental health must be taken seriously, as it is “no joke.”
Also read: Qing Madi: Nigerian Music Industry Unfair To Female Artistes
