Nigerian entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has opened up about his struggles with mental health shortly after the Lagos State Government renamed the Charly Boy Bus Stop in Bariga to Badoo Bus Stop.
Naijaonpoint reports that Charly Boy explained that the stress and negativity around the renaming pushed him to take a short break outside the country.
The activist revealed that he traveled to Europe to spend time with friends and recharge, but even then, he still felt restless and uneasy after just a few days.
According to him, depression is a real issue that many Nigerians face but often do not have the means to escape from.
He said that he was privileged to take time off, unlike many who remain stuck with their pain, pretending to be fine while suffering in silence.
The entertainer stressed that mental health challenges should not be treated as weakness or taboo.
He urged people to speak up, breathe, and find ways to cope with life’s pressures rather than allowing struggles to break them.
He wrote on his Instagram page: “Life is a bitch, then we die. After all the sillyness and pettiness of the Bus Stop shenanigans, i say make i take short break from our potopoto environment before Nigeria happen to me, didn’t want to drown in people’s madness. Oyibo people talk say, if u stay in shit long enough you will smell like one.
“Na so I come japa go Europe go visit my bro dr Alban. I was to spend 3wks recharging and rebooting. U can’t imagine, only after 10days body begin scratch me, like say I forget smtin for Nigeria, the same environment wey dey give me sleepless nights sometimes. Couldn’t even do 2wks complete i don run come bk. Sometimes e be like jazz.
“But here’s the truth, depression na real matter. I was lucky enough to take a break, step away and come back refreshed, holding on to the Oyibo breeze wey bin blow me. But how many people get that kind privilege?
“Some people no even get where to run to. Dem dey stuck with their pain, smiling on the outside, but bleeding inside. We need to start talking about these things. Mental health no be joke, e no be weakness, e no be taboo. Na reality. If Area Fada fit admit say sometimes e dey choke, you too no need to pretend. Speak up, breathe, find your way back. Life go still test us, but make we no let am break us.”
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