Nigerian singer Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, aka Charly Boy, paid a touching tribute to his late father, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, on his posthumous birthday.
Charly Boy shared an emotional message on Instagram on September 22, 2024. In it, he included a carousel of photos of himself and his father and expressed his deep love and admiration for him, reflecting on the impact he had on his life. He highlighted how much his father is missed and appreciated for shaping him into the person he is today.
The “Ninja Bike” crooner reflected on the tough but loving approach his father used in guiding him, acknowledging that this “rough way” kept him from going astray.
In his words: “This is for my tough/loving late father; we love and miss you so much, Dad. Today being your special day, I just want to say how much we miss you and thank you for shaping me into the person I am today. If not for the rough way you handled me, I would have been lost.”
“Heaven is lucky to have you. Happy Birthday, Dad. I’ll never forget everything you did for me and my siblings and how much you went out of your way for us all. Your name will never be forgotten; we will make sure of that. Help me celebrate this Daddy; he was one of a kind,” he added.
Charly Boy has always been open about the complex relationship he had with his father growing up.
On The Honest Bunch Podcast in 2023, Charly Boy spoke about how his father’s influence and strong religious upbringing affected his early life, sending him down a path he later discovered was not for him.
During the conversation, the singer discussed his struggle to live up to his father’s expectations while maintaining a Christian upbringing. He admitted that his brief time at the seminary ended when he realized that the path to becoming a reverend father did not reflect his true nature.
