In a recent interview session with selected journalists, Charlie Boy spoke on his
father’s death, burial plans and what Chukwudife Oputa, retired justice, stood
for, among other issues.
father’s death, burial plans and what Chukwudife Oputa, retired justice, stood
for, among other issues.
See excerpts below:
Do you wish God kept
your father a little bit longer?
Before Nko, but his
time was up and he had to answer the call. He lived a good life. He was
outstanding, totally different and I am so very proud that he was my father.
Even though in the beginning I rebelled against all he stood for, it all
eventually caught up with me. As I matured over the years, I found out that he
had done me so much good. For sure I’m going to miss him like mad, but I have
wonderful memories to tie me over.
your father a little bit longer?
Before Nko, but his
time was up and he had to answer the call. He lived a good life. He was
outstanding, totally different and I am so very proud that he was my father.
Even though in the beginning I rebelled against all he stood for, it all
eventually caught up with me. As I matured over the years, I found out that he
had done me so much good. For sure I’m going to miss him like mad, but I have
wonderful memories to tie me over.
What does your
tradition expect of you from now till your dad is buried? Are you to stay
indoors 40days? Cut your hair? What is now expected of you, or any other member
of the male/female Oputas?
I am not too
knowledgeable about the traditional aspect, my relatives in the village have
not told me about any specific things I should do. For now, all I am doing is
planning and receiving guests who come to sympathise with the family. My father
will first be buried as a Christian and a Knight in the church. He holds the
title of (Odua) the oldest man in the village. Tradition says, he will require
a second burial a year after the first, that’s the much I know. I shaved my
hair way before he passed on, he loved my new look.
tradition expect of you from now till your dad is buried? Are you to stay
indoors 40days? Cut your hair? What is now expected of you, or any other member
of the male/female Oputas?
I am not too
knowledgeable about the traditional aspect, my relatives in the village have
not told me about any specific things I should do. For now, all I am doing is
planning and receiving guests who come to sympathise with the family. My father
will first be buried as a Christian and a Knight in the church. He holds the
title of (Odua) the oldest man in the village. Tradition says, he will require
a second burial a year after the first, that’s the much I know. I shaved my
hair way before he passed on, he loved my new look.
At the point when you
wrote the prayer request letter for your dad, did you harbour any fears that
your father may be spending his last days on earth?
He was in the village
when he was hit by stroke on the 14th of February, 2014. At about 3:30pm, I got
a call from one of his aids informing me of what had happened. It was a Friday;
one of my daughters had just come back from the US a few days before. So, I
sent her and my brother immediately to Owerri to assess the situation till I
got myself together and arrived on Monday. My brother, I didn’t sleep from
Friday to Monday morning. I was in a trance, the worse seized my mind. I cried
when I was alone, in my household it was as if he had already passed, my father
had never been sick, ever! It was the most painful time in my life; the thought
of losing my father, my best friend was too much to deal with. But typical me,
by Monday as I headed to the airport to catch the flight to Owerri, I was
mentally ready for the worst. By the time I saw my father in the hospital, I
was devastated, it took all the courage to hold back the tears. Then I knew it
was down hill from there. I knew it was a matter of time, but I was ever
determined to do all I could for my best friend. Since childhood I have always
had that sharp instinct, intuition or premonition about things and people. I
should have been dead long time ago, living the kind of life I had lived, but I
have survived because of this gift from God.
wrote the prayer request letter for your dad, did you harbour any fears that
your father may be spending his last days on earth?
He was in the village
when he was hit by stroke on the 14th of February, 2014. At about 3:30pm, I got
a call from one of his aids informing me of what had happened. It was a Friday;
one of my daughters had just come back from the US a few days before. So, I
sent her and my brother immediately to Owerri to assess the situation till I
got myself together and arrived on Monday. My brother, I didn’t sleep from
Friday to Monday morning. I was in a trance, the worse seized my mind. I cried
when I was alone, in my household it was as if he had already passed, my father
had never been sick, ever! It was the most painful time in my life; the thought
of losing my father, my best friend was too much to deal with. But typical me,
by Monday as I headed to the airport to catch the flight to Owerri, I was
mentally ready for the worst. By the time I saw my father in the hospital, I
was devastated, it took all the courage to hold back the tears. Then I knew it
was down hill from there. I knew it was a matter of time, but I was ever
determined to do all I could for my best friend. Since childhood I have always
had that sharp instinct, intuition or premonition about things and people. I
should have been dead long time ago, living the kind of life I had lived, but I
have survived because of this gift from God.
Seeing him helpless
those harrowing weeks, what went on in your mind?
A lot of pain. Ever
since I can remember, I have never seen my father down. I have never seen him
sick. I prayed that God shouldn’t let him suffer one bit. I couldn’t stand the
fact that we could no longer have the kind of robust discussions we used to
have. Most of the time he was quiet, and I will always wonder what’s going
through his mind. God has been kind to our family, He made his passage peaceful
and I am thankful.
those harrowing weeks, what went on in your mind?
A lot of pain. Ever
since I can remember, I have never seen my father down. I have never seen him
sick. I prayed that God shouldn’t let him suffer one bit. I couldn’t stand the
fact that we could no longer have the kind of robust discussions we used to
have. Most of the time he was quiet, and I will always wonder what’s going
through his mind. God has been kind to our family, He made his passage peaceful
and I am thankful.
Were you beside your
father when he spent his last moments on earth?
He died in my house,
too bad it wasn’t in my arms. After the hospital stabilised him, we were
advised by the doctors to take him home and give him the care he needed to
nurse him back to life. But I knew that age was not on his side. My
father was over 96years. On Sunday the 4th of May 2014, I went down to his
quarters to see him. He had not been eating properly. As I went on my usual
round to see him and crack a few jokes before I go do my thing, I noticed he
was unusually weak. As soon as I entered his room, he beckoned on me to come. I
bent over to kiss his forehead and he said to me “Am sorry Charles”.
father when he spent his last moments on earth?
He died in my house,
too bad it wasn’t in my arms. After the hospital stabilised him, we were
advised by the doctors to take him home and give him the care he needed to
nurse him back to life. But I knew that age was not on his side. My
father was over 96years. On Sunday the 4th of May 2014, I went down to his
quarters to see him. He had not been eating properly. As I went on my usual
round to see him and crack a few jokes before I go do my thing, I noticed he
was unusually weak. As soon as I entered his room, he beckoned on me to come. I
bent over to kiss his forehead and he said to me “Am sorry Charles”.
Why did he say that?
Did he regret not being there for you when you really needed him?
I asked him why he was
sorry. I couldn’t imagine that with his state of health, all my father was
thinking about was all the money I was spending to give him the best care and
the love I showered on him. He was worrying about me? Hummmm. At that point I
just laughed and said to him, “daddy, get well soon so that I won’t send you a
bill you cannot pay”. I asked the nurse to give him his bath, while I go and do
same and come back to feed him myself. I was just getting dressed after my bath
when the nurse called me to say I should come down quickly. At that point I
knew what I have been getting myself ready for, has finally happened. I thank
God that I not only spent quality time with him, we became almost inseparable.
Did he regret not being there for you when you really needed him?
I asked him why he was
sorry. I couldn’t imagine that with his state of health, all my father was
thinking about was all the money I was spending to give him the best care and
the love I showered on him. He was worrying about me? Hummmm. At that point I
just laughed and said to him, “daddy, get well soon so that I won’t send you a
bill you cannot pay”. I asked the nurse to give him his bath, while I go and do
same and come back to feed him myself. I was just getting dressed after my bath
when the nurse called me to say I should come down quickly. At that point I
knew what I have been getting myself ready for, has finally happened. I thank
God that I not only spent quality time with him, we became almost inseparable.
What were his last
words before he passed on?
‘I’m sorry Charles’. I
had just left his side about an hour to have my shower when I heard the man had
given up. I rushed back to where he was and found him dead. He had prepared my
mind for this few weeks before his death when he told me to stop spending money
on his health; he was literally telling me his time was up. I told him I wasn’t
complaining about it, why should he be bothered about it, but his response was
just Charles, I am sorry.
words before he passed on?
‘I’m sorry Charles’. I
had just left his side about an hour to have my shower when I heard the man had
given up. I rushed back to where he was and found him dead. He had prepared my
mind for this few weeks before his death when he told me to stop spending money
on his health; he was literally telling me his time was up. I told him I wasn’t
complaining about it, why should he be bothered about it, but his response was
just Charles, I am sorry.
Did he write his will and how are you sure it
won’t cause any hitch among the family members?
That’s funny you know.
It is a man who has what to share that writes a will. My dad did not have
anything much because he was not a corrupt man when he was serving as Judge of
the Supreme Court. He died a broke man because he didn’t want to toe the path
that would bring shame to the family and rubbish his integrity in any way. He
taught his children what they needed when he was alive, which are uprightness
and education. He lived with me before he died, so there is nothing to share
because there is nothing in the first place. My brother, I am not sure of any
will.
won’t cause any hitch among the family members?
That’s funny you know.
It is a man who has what to share that writes a will. My dad did not have
anything much because he was not a corrupt man when he was serving as Judge of
the Supreme Court. He died a broke man because he didn’t want to toe the path
that would bring shame to the family and rubbish his integrity in any way. He
taught his children what they needed when he was alive, which are uprightness
and education. He lived with me before he died, so there is nothing to share
because there is nothing in the first place. My brother, I am not sure of any
will.
Tell us about the
concert you plan to stage for your late father?
My father without a
doubt was a great man. He’s the last of the Titans. When people who come to see
me and say sorry to me, I correct them by demanding they say congrats to me.
Here is a man who has led a good life, who stood for justice especially for the
common man, who stuck to one wife for over 70yrs. I’m having Nollywood come
down to Oguta, the cream of Nigerian musicians, The Hard Riders Biker Club from
Port Harcourt, Nigerians will be there. I expect Daddy Showkey, Felix Duke,
TerryG, Dr Alban, Davido, Duncan Mighty, Indeed it will be a grand celebration
of a damn good life. People go bow, dem go hear am.
concert you plan to stage for your late father?
My father without a
doubt was a great man. He’s the last of the Titans. When people who come to see
me and say sorry to me, I correct them by demanding they say congrats to me.
Here is a man who has led a good life, who stood for justice especially for the
common man, who stuck to one wife for over 70yrs. I’m having Nollywood come
down to Oguta, the cream of Nigerian musicians, The Hard Riders Biker Club from
Port Harcourt, Nigerians will be there. I expect Daddy Showkey, Felix Duke,
TerryG, Dr Alban, Davido, Duncan Mighty, Indeed it will be a grand celebration
of a damn good life. People go bow, dem go hear am.
What will you miss
most about him?
I will actually miss a
lot of things about him. I don’t know if you can get it if you have never been
there. I loved my father to bits, he was like my hero. He dared to be different
like me; he was like no other, like me. I will miss our regular evening provoking
conversations, when he would come over to my part of the house, as I serve him
his small stout while I drink my coke and we would talk endlessly about many
things under the sun. I will miss his company especially all the times he
accompanied me to different shows. Full of wisecracks, he made life’s journey
so simple and uncomplicated, he exemplified the significance of life. Head or
tail, I know he indisputably deserves the heavenly gift of paradise.
most about him?
I will actually miss a
lot of things about him. I don’t know if you can get it if you have never been
there. I loved my father to bits, he was like my hero. He dared to be different
like me; he was like no other, like me. I will miss our regular evening provoking
conversations, when he would come over to my part of the house, as I serve him
his small stout while I drink my coke and we would talk endlessly about many
things under the sun. I will miss his company especially all the times he
accompanied me to different shows. Full of wisecracks, he made life’s journey
so simple and uncomplicated, he exemplified the significance of life. Head or
tail, I know he indisputably deserves the heavenly gift of paradise.
How do you feel being
fatherless?
I have joined the club
of the fatherless people. I hope that one day they will make me their
president. If you know how close we became, you will feel very sorry for me.
But I’m up to the challenge. Now I have my mother to concentrate on. She was my
first love anyway before my father got into my good books. So, all the love and
care will be transferred to her full time. Thank God I’m not an orphan yet,
that would have been a serious problem.
fatherless?
I have joined the club
of the fatherless people. I hope that one day they will make me their
president. If you know how close we became, you will feel very sorry for me.
But I’m up to the challenge. Now I have my mother to concentrate on. She was my
first love anyway before my father got into my good books. So, all the love and
care will be transferred to her full time. Thank God I’m not an orphan yet,
that would have been a serious problem.
What are those fine
qualities you inherited from your father?
We stood for justice
especially for the common man. We were both deep thinkers. We are both men who
are content and at peace with self. We are both committed to changing our
environment. We love our wives dearly, my father till his death spent over
70yrs with the same woman, I have spent 37yrs still counting. We have strong
love for our family and always very protective. My father wasn’t phased with or
by material things, same here. We love to read and learn. When we were younger
we both used to be such flirts. We both believe in one man one woman. We both
are very spiritual beings.
qualities you inherited from your father?
We stood for justice
especially for the common man. We were both deep thinkers. We are both men who
are content and at peace with self. We are both committed to changing our
environment. We love our wives dearly, my father till his death spent over
70yrs with the same woman, I have spent 37yrs still counting. We have strong
love for our family and always very protective. My father wasn’t phased with or
by material things, same here. We love to read and learn. When we were younger
we both used to be such flirts. We both believe in one man one woman. We both
are very spiritual beings.