TheCable

Prominent Musicians, D’banj and Terry G, are some of Nigeria’s elite artistes scheduled to perform at a private concert hosted by Charles Oputa, better known as Charly Boy, in honour of his late father, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.

Oputa, a former Justice of the Supreme Court, died on Sunday afternoon after recovering from a brief illness at the age of 89.

Speaking with NAN at his residence in Abuja, Charly Boy said “there is a great need to celebrate” his father, because he lived a fulfilled

He urged Nigerians not to sympathise with him, but to join in celebrating a life well-lived.

“My father was a good and great man, though we did not start off well because in the beginning he always felt I was too rascally,” he said.

“I did not obey orders, and I got tired of his rules, regulations and restrictions; so it was important that I go my own way. I thank God I did that, because at long last since the past 25 years, I won the kind of respect I deserved from the man who thought that the direction I took was a wrong move. For the past 25 years, we bonded and I am proud to have had a father like him.”

Charly Boy praised  his father for bringing him up on a strong “overdose” of morals, values, principles, and how to be contented and to be at peace with oneself.

“I will continue to apply these virtues to my life,” he said.

One of the sympathisers at the Oputa’s residence, Mr Mike Okiro, a retired IGP, described the late justice as a rare nugget. Okiro described Oputa’s death as a big loss to the family, the judiciary and the country, saying he was a legend, especially in the judiciary, who was recognised internationally, and would be missed greatly.

“He was a great man and he lived a very good life worthy of emulation,” he said.

Daniel Wilson, a musician who also condoled with the family, described the late Oputa as a rare gem who lived a great life, and whose memory would live on.