Renowned Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actor, Chukwuemeka Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has sparked controversy by urging Nigerian youths to rise and revolt against the country.
Verified Gist reports that the 73-year-old artist, known for his support of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, drew inspiration from the unrest in France, where riots have ensued following the tragic killing of a 17-year-old boy by a policeman.
Drawing a parallel between the situation in France and Nigeria, Charly Boy posted a video showing the fiery chaos in parts of Paris. He wrote, “This isn’t Syria, Iraq, or Afghanistan. This is France, where 9% of the population has brought down entire cities!” He called upon the Nigerian youths to take a similar stand against the system they believe has let them down, implying that it’s time for the exceptional Nigerian youth to reclaim control over their destiny.
In an earlier version of the post, the musician went further, referring to Nigeria as a “criminal enterprise” and encouraging the youth to bring it down.
The post quickly garnered over 500 comments, with many expressing resentment towards Charly Boy for advocating such actions. One commenter, Emmanuel Iyaniwura, challenged the artist to let his children lead the movement, criticising him for preaching hatred and violence instead of positively impacting the country.
Jetima007 urged Charly Boy not to incite violence, emphasising that the responsibility to bring about change lies with the current generation of Nigerian youths.
Another commentator, Abigail Nathaniel, a big fan of Charly Boy, expressed strong disapproval of his call for violence, while Desanya Maestro emphasised the importance of taking a more peaceful approach to resolving issues.
Even the Director of Media and Publicity for the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign took to Twitter to condemn Charly Boy’s statements, branding them “highly irresponsible” and calling for authorities to intervene.
