Conversation... With Justice OputaSaturday, 10 September 2011 00:00 By Obire Onakemu
WILL I ever get tired of coming to the Punk Palace, Abuja for scoops? I don't think so. Too many hot story lines! This and some other thoughts were going through my mind, as I stood waiting for the gate to open.
I looked round me at the cultured outside garden. Neat rows of well-trimmed pines, yellow bushes, garden lights; a giant iron-wrought 'Area Fada boot' and the unique artistry of the gate.
Charly Boy's appearance and put-on careless and sometimes rough and grouch manner may deceive some un-discerning, but his clean, orderly, beautiful and green environment clearly reveals his true nature and a background of culture.
Then, the gate opened and I walked in towards the usual waiting place — the Bush Bar.
CB was already there in his boxers and T-shirt, and beside him, his father, the Justice with a half-empty bottle of small stout and a filled glass on a stool in front of him.
Of course, we all know that CB doesn't drink. I have, however, heard that his dad's only indulgence in this his advanced age is an occasional drink of a small bottle of stout and cognac; definitely, a legacy from his debonair days as a young dishy-dashy brilliant lawyer.
It was a good sight to behold: a sixty-years-old young son and his ninety-something-year-old father/great-grandfather, relaxing in the garden on a Sunday evening.
As I approached them, they were laughing so heartily, literally quaking. What could this very funny joke be? Father and son certainly are good friends. I almost envied CB. My own father passed on at 56.
Pleasantries over, I sat down to my owe bottle of stout. There and then, I decided that I would ask to interview the Justice. This agreed; we quickly got down to it almost in a conversational manner.
GENERALLY, people retire back to their villages. However, Your Lordship appears very happy and relaxed here in your son's place. Where would you actually like to spend the rest of your obviously still long years ahead? Abuja or Oguta?
Ha, of course, in both places. I love Oguta, my town, and I just came back from a six-month stay in Oguta. Young man, have you ever been there? No! I suggest you go.
It is a beautiful lake resort town. A happy peaceful town with every tourist attraction, and I have a comfortable country home there. I am also the oldest person in my village and thus have assumed an additional, very important traditional title as the final arbiter in conflict resolutions, and the mentoring, wise counseling father of all.
I also love staying in Abuja with Charles and his lovely wife, Diane and my many grandchildren. One great-grand child, Olivia, is also here but the others are in the US.
God has given me very good health and I'm still strong, with capacity to function comfortably and succinctly. I still read a lot, write, and follow with cognition both serious and ordinary but topical discussions and events.
I also now have more time to indulge in my new pass time — engaging with the youths in their creative pursuits and their exuberance and problems. Charles often takes me out to their shows, music, comedy and all.
I relish my time here in Abuja and so welcome the opportunity for peaceful, quiet time for reflection and rest.
Of course, you know that my best friend and love of my life, my wife, is always with me. Though she is in a wheel chair, she is still as vivacious, pretty and brilliant as ever. The only time we quarrel is when she vehemently refuses to allow me my bottle of stout and my occasional cognac. Charles often comes to the rescue and over rules her.
I also have come to love tuning in to the Africa Magic channel when not working in my study. Abuja is a beautiful city and I love being driven around in Charlie's sports convertible car and sometimes very slowly on his giant noisy power bike with music blaring.
I always wanted a sports car and though I had a jaguar and posh never got round to owning a sports car. Now, that dream is fulfilled through my son, and I thank God for a good son.
I believe God has granted me the opportunity to occasionally enjoy once more, like a young man. That is my prayer for you young ones: that in your old age, you will also have good health and other faculties so that you also enjoy your old age. Yes, I also love staying here in Abuja.
REPORTS have it that you did not support your son, Charles, in fact, that you were decidedly disappointed when he deviated from your plans for him to become a lawyer and instead started building his present brand Charliboyism. Is it true?
The reports are correct. Naturally, I was disapproving. Which caring father would not be? It was bad enough for those days that he wanted to be a musician but to also begin to despot himself in the outlandish manner that he chose was rather too much, especially for someone in my kind of profession.
I did not just object because of my personal feelings, but more because of Charles himself. I was worried he might not understand the implications of choosing a path I was sure would lead him nowhere but only expose him to ridicule and to what I perceived as a seedy dangerous social group.
Music, I thought, should be a hobby not a career. Time has proved me so wrong for which I am grateful and thank the good Lord. Of course, Charly has never, and I believe, will never let me hear the last of it.
Anyway, I have not lost out in any way because my younger son, Ijeoma, is a practicing and promising lawyer and my chambers will not after all be deserted, and I have not built a huge law library in vain.
Would you say that you and Charly have similar traits and what are those traits?
Oh yes. Charles is so hardworking; sometimes, I almost worry until I recall that that was how I used to be in my younger days and even until I retired from active professional life and service. Hard work and tremendous focus are certainly our common traits.
He is also just like me: a man with a strong attachment to his family. He just does not joke with that. I am also very proud to note that like me, he has zero tolerance for injustice of any kind.
That is again related to a deep compassion for the less-privileged and downtrodden. As a child, he jumped into fights in defence of even total strangers as soon as he believed they were being cheated.
Not to talk of even depriving himself of his pocket money or the many friends he made me adopt so that their school fees could be paid. I paid school fees of total strangers so that my insistent son would let me rest.
Charles was very stubborn and quite spoilt, especially by his mum. If he wanted anything, he must get it. Never gives up. I think he beats me hands down there.
Finally, I see numerous women milling young Charles and he appears quite comfortable and on top of the game. I observe and smile. I remember my days.
Women find the Oputas irresistible and we have a special way of being charming. Mind you, Charles, like me, has control that protects him from being irresponsible and profligate.
What is the one trait you most admire in your son?
His doggedness. He has lofty visions seemingly impossible to actualize. He pursues those visions with a single-minded doggedness, exhibiting an amazing capacity to build a team and drive them relentlessly towards the realization of his dreams.
His advice to the youths — to never let anybody kill their dreams — is his personal mantra, which rules him. I salute that.
IF women found you irresistible and you were adept at charming them, how come you have stayed married to the same woman for over 60 years? Who takes the credit: you or Mama? In addition, do you think your example has been contributory to the success of Charly Boy's marriage to Lady D?
I stayed married to the same woman for this long because I married my friend with whom I share common interests and with whom I can converse. We both worked at our marriage and were committed to making it work.
I must commend her tolerance and patience that saw us through some difficult patches. She understood me and knew that no one could take her place. She was also strong and determined and no woman could take her man. She knew how to keep her home intact.
Besides, we are ardent Christians and till today, still pray together. You know the saying that a family that prays together stays together. The grace of God keeps your love, tolerance and mutual respect alive.
Naturally, Charles grew up in that home and imbibed the culture. He was rather wild and seemingly uncontrollable in his teenage and matured very quickly. We, however, gave him a strict Christian upbringing.
Underneath the extreme exuberance was a deep sense of responsibility and clarity about his capabilities and how he wants to commit them. I am not surprised that when he finally found his soul mate, he settled down to a good marriage.
In any case, Charles has not just women around him but also men. He has a free and childlike nature that permits anyone around him to unfold his creativity and to be himself. This is a rare quality. That is what people fall in love with. Otherwise, usually, most people are masquerading and it can be so tiring and boring.
Looking back at your youth and then at what you now have come to experience, accept and admire about your son, do you think that given the right circumstances, you could have also become an artist, musician, or perhaps even a Charly Boy? Is there an artist lying deep and unrevealed or undiscovered deep within you?
In my days, it was not the respectable thing to be a musician, especially if you came from a good home that had the capacity to provide the opportunity for sound education. What people took pride in were Medicine, Law, Engineering and the Teaching profession. Music could be allowed and appreciated only as a hobby.
As a young man, I loved music and dancing and, certainly, was impassioned with the contemporary music of my youth. Until today, I love my jazz, classical, blues and highlife. I love ballroom dancing, the waltz, tango, foxtrot, rumba, cha cha, and the swing.
I believe I have art and creativity within, but never fed that part of me. However, I suspect I diverted its flavour into my law practice and make it uniquely different.
If today I am also proud to introduce myself as Charly Boy's father, I guess given the same circumstances that were my son's, I just might have attempted to be Charly Boy. I doubt though if I would have succeeded as well.
Curiously, it may be his mother who may be a better Charly Boy. That is probably why she never doubted that he would do well, even for me in those anxious days.
I understand that in the Battle of the Gifted — the Charly Boy Show Live —taking place on September 10 (today) at the ThisDay Dome, you are billed to compete with OBJ in dancing. What should we expect?
Hmmmm! Charlie's pranks! I guess you have to wait until that day. We have had one rehearsal though!
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