Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has thrown his weight behind veteran entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, when he praised his campaign on men’s health while lamenting Nigeria’s declining security situation during a separate visit to environmentalist and explorer Newton Jibunoh.
Obi, who shared details of the engagements on Saturday, said Charly Boy’s work on prostate cancer awareness deserved wider public support because it addresses a health challenge that continues to affect thousands of Nigerian men.
The former Anambra State governor attended the launch of “999: The Memoir of Charly Boy” in Lagos on Friday before travelling to Asaba the following day to visit the newly established Newton Jibunoh Centre and Museum.
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Obi said Charly Boy’s public image often overshadows his contributions to social causes. He noted that the musician and activist has channelled his personal battle with prostate cancer into efforts to promote early diagnosis and better access to treatment.
Obi wrote: “He has chosen to transform his personal experience into a campaign for awareness, early detection, and improved access to treatment.”
He added that improving public health is essential to national development and pledged support for initiatives that expand awareness of preventable diseases.
Prostate cancer is one of the leading cancers affecting men globally. In Nigeria, health experts have repeatedly raised concerns over late diagnosis, poor awareness, and limited access to specialist care, factors that contribute to high mortality rates despite advances in treatment.
Obi’s remarks came amid renewed conversations around preventive healthcare, with advocacy groups urging governments to invest more in routine screening and public education.
The former presidential candidate also used his visit to honour Newton Jibunoh, 2home he described as one of Nigeria’s enduring national figures.
With the fact that he could not attend Jibunoh’s Mandela Day event themed “Poverty and Inequality Are in Our Hands,” Obi said it was important to visit him personally.
He recalled Jibunoh’s historic expeditions across the Sahara Desert to London, first undertaken in 1967 and repeated on several occasions over the decades. He said those journeys were remarkable demonstrations of courage, resilience, and determination.
Beyond celebrating those achievements, Obi used the occasion to reflect on Nigeria’s changing security landscape.
He noted that Jibunoh’s trans-African journeys represented an era when travelling across Nigeria and neighbouring countries was considerably safer than it is today.
According to him, conversations with the veteran environmental campaigner serve as reminders of how much the country has lost in terms of safety and national cohesion.
Obi explained that restoring security is central to rebuilding the country, and that Nigeria still has significant work to do if it hopes to create an environment where citizens can move freely and pursue economic opportunities without fear.
He ended his statement with his familiar refrain that “A New Nigeria is POssible,” linking improved healthcare, national security, and social development to what he considers the broader task of rebuilding the country.
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