I had to go into the bush to live my dream – Charly Boy

It’s just a combination of father and son, I was just articulating what he has been wanting to do for the past two years, I am just carrying on with what I have been doing for the past twenty five years, so there is a need for us to come together to do this. First, […]

It’s just a combination of father and son, I was just articulating what he has been wanting to do for the past two years, I am just carrying on with what I have been doing for the past twenty five years, so there is a need for us to come together to do this. First, you thank a few people in leadership position who are showing some kind of promise, we hope that they keep doing the good work and improve with time so that people in their state can also feel them. But for me, it is a way to reaffirm the youths’ role in the scheme of things in Nigeria. The youths as you know are the most neglected, the most ignored and funny enough, these are the people holding what is left of the Nigerian image in the Diaspora. The youth are the only ones holding forth for us. So today is to celebrate the success of some  people who have decided to do something different and to show attention to the plight of Nigerian youths and what people in leadership position, why they must have a rethink.

The youths have been variously described as the future of the nation but with the current state of leadership in the country, do you think there is still any hope for the Nigerian youth to be leaders of tomorrow?

There cannot be any hope now. If the exceptional youths are not coming out to synergize and give the young people a sense of direction because most of the people in leadership position today should not be there in the first instance. It is only because this is Nigeria and mediocrity reigns coupled with the Nigerian factor, that’s why they are there. We know that some of them are rogues and thieves and are not even qualified in the first place, but that is the country we find ourselves in. What kind of people can these leaders produce? They can’t produce good quality people because what has been reigning supreme is mediocrity and how can the youths who wake up every day read the newspaper to hear that this governor has stolen this, this minister has stolen this and nobody is being penalized for these offences. What you are teaching these young persons is that crime pays?

Against the backdrop of this unpleasant leadership system in Nigeria, is there any hope for Nigerian youths?

There is hope, I mean if they look at Charly Boy, and a few young people who stand out, you will see that there is hope. That is what the Charly Boy Foundation is all about. You know people in the Diaspora that we want to bring back. We are building a youth center organized by the Charly Boy Foundation and this youth center is supposed to house about eight thousand people. I think what Charly Boy has done over the years is to share my life with the young people and to tell them that regardless, I don’t care if you are coming from ground zero, you don’t have a father, you don’t have a mother. I know one thing for sure, coming from the pedigree I am coming from, having to be more or less boycotted by my parents because of my choice of what I wanted to do. I had to even go into the bush, I mean, all my life I have been used to comfort and all of a sudden, because of what I wanted  to do for myself and what I know will give me fulfillment in life decided to go into the bush and start life again, I mean how bold can you be. Even though the first twelve years were really dark in my life. All of a sudden, I found myself wanting, all of a sudden I became very poor and wretched but then ,    if     holding  tothe tenacity of that dream that I have, being stubborn about my dream, being consistent through the years, regardless of how  people misunderstood and rejected me at the beginning and I am still here and I have decided to make a success out of what I do  and then, my father who rejected my choice of career in the beginning for the past fifteen years has nothing but tremendous respect for me, that  tells you that if I can succeed like that, anybody who challenges themselves in the  proper way can also succeed and failure should not be an excuse.

There are several youth organizations out there like the Nigerian youth forum, the Nigerian youth parliaments and the rest; do you think such associations are effectively championing the cause of the Nigerian youths?

Well, I don’t know what some of the groups are doing but definitely know that the salvation of this country lies in the hands of the exceptional youth.  I have met a lot of young people who are passionate about this country and who really want things to change, those who don’t have the patience to retain this status quo anymore and I know that the change will come and that’s is why on my own, I am stepping up my advocacy in this direction. Like I said, for that salvation to come,  it will lie in the hands of its exceptional youths and I have seen a few in this country. I believe in this country more than I have ever been.

Most Nigerian youths have the idea that except they travel out of the country, they can’t really make it, that’s why you see young people ready to do anything to travel out, what is your take on this?

Their country has deceived them and battered their psyche. They are looking for greener pastures abroad, I don’t blame them, if they knew any better, they won’t do it. The only thing I have to say to them is that the streets of Europe and America are not paved with gold. One thing I must tell them because it’s part of the project I am presently working on is that I have met a lot of Nigerians in the Diaspora especially those who travelled through illegal routes. They are stranded in Europe, they have lost all sense of dignity, they don’t even have a job, they can’t go to the hospital if they are sick, they can’t come home because they are ashamed, Infact, they are between the devil and the deep blue sea, so, they are in another man’s country and they are going through so much pain. I have done documentaries about these people, and I think I am in the best position to talk on these things because of the experiences I have. I know it’s not easy here in Nigeria but no matter how difficult, this is our country. So it is for me to let people know what they are getting themselves into before they get it wrong.

Now let’s talk about your personal lifestyle, a lot of people have come to identify you with motorbikes and body piercing, what is the significance of all these?

It is just an extension of my freedom. Period. Because I don’t want to look like you or any Nigerian. If I could be looking like something out of space, that’s the look I would want. I don’t think I am your typical Nigerian and I tried not to talk the Nigerian talk, walk the Nigerian walk or think the Nigerian way. So I think I am a totally different person. It was a conscious effort right from the beginning to be different.