Charly Boy under fire over comments on France riot

Nigerian singer and activist, Charles “Charlie Boy” Oputa, has come under fire over his recent comments on the riots currently taking place in France which many termed as an incitement of Nigerian youths against the Nigerian government.

Per Second News reports that there was widespread riots following the killing of a 17-year-old Algerian migrant, Nahel, during a traffic stop in Nanterre, a Paris suburb on June 29.

During the protests staged by sympathisers, youths were seen looting shops while setting fire on public properties in multiple French cities.

Commenting on the riots on Twitter, Charly Boy called on Nigerian youths to reject a system that has let them down.

“This isn’t Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan. This is France where 9% of the population has brought down entire cities! Karma from Africa?

“I am waiting on the exceptional Nigerian Youths to reject a system that let dem down. Una destiny dey una hand (your destinies are in your hand),” he tweeted.

Charly Boy’s comments have, however, been condemned by some Nigerians, who accused the musician of calling for insurrection in Nigeria with some also calling for his arrest.

The Director of the Media and Publicity for the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Council, Mr Bayo Onanuga, described the comments by Charly Boy as “irresponsible” while urging security agencies to call him to order.

Onanuga tweeted: “Highly irresponsible for a 73-year-old man Charly Boy asking ‘exceptional Nigerian youths’ to burn down the ‘criminal enterprise’, which he called Nigeria. The security agencies should call this old man to order immediately.”

Lydia Jaja (@lydiateeanajaja) accused Charly Boy of wanting to see Nigeria burnt down because his candidate lost the election, calling on the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest him.

“We have no other place to call home except our Nigeria. @AreaFada1 wants to burn down our only country because his candidate lost the election. I call on @OfficialDSSNG to arrest Charley boy now,” she said.

While noting that Charly Boy shouldn’t get away with the call, Qudus Akanbi, a popularly influencer, urged other Nigerians to tweet until law enforcement agencies “do their jobs.”

Another tweep, Deji Akintunde, tweeted: “If Charly Boy is not arrested for this incitement, our security architecture needs to be revisited. We shouldn’t wait until things become uncontrollable before we act.”

While reacting in an exclusive interview with Per Second News on Saturday, Charly Boy who returned to Nigeria days back after travelling to the UK to observe rest following a successful prostrate cancer surgery, said he didn’t call for insurrection in Nigeria.

He added that he was not surprised that some Nigerians are twisting his words, saying, “All I was saying was that Nigeria’s curse is finally catching up with those who contributed to the problems in our country as seen in France.

“I don’t know why that is being termed call for insurrection. I think it is very wrong to infer that I suggested otherwise.”