Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has defended President Bola Tinubu’s administration amid growing public criticism over Nigeria’s economic hardship, insisting that the situation is not as dire as some Nigerians have portrayed it.
The 72-year-old actor made the remarks during an interview on Talk To B, a podcast hosted by actress Biola Adebayo. The interview was shared on YouTube on Friday night.
Kosoko, a known supporter of Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), attributed some of Nigeria’s current challenges to the failure of previous administrations to adequately plan for the country’s growing population. He argued that the Tinubu-led government was working to address problems inherited from past governments.
“Things are not as bad as some people made us understand,” the actor said.
He also suggested that some Nigerians complaining about hunger and economic hardship had no meaningful sources of livelihood before Tinubu assumed office.
Defending the removal of the petrol subsidy, Kosoko argued that the funds previously spent on maintaining the subsidy could be channelled into critical sectors of the economy.
He cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as an example of government initiatives aimed at providing support to citizens, urging beneficiaries to share their experiences with the public.
Although he acknowledged that Nigerians were facing difficult economic conditions, the veteran actor appealed to citizens to exercise patience, expressing confidence that the administration’s policies would attract investments and gradually improve the country’s fortunes.
Kosoko also called on Nigerians to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that opposition parties had little to offer compared with the incumbent.
“Let’s allow the man to finish his job. He’s doing well,” he said.
Expressing optimism about the president’s ability to address the country’s challenges, Kosoko maintained that Tinubu was dealing with problems created by previous administrations.
“My appeal is this. He will take us out of this mess. He is only cleaning up people’s mess,” the actor added.
He urged Nigerians to cooperate with the government and endure the current economic difficulties, expressing hope that the country would eventually overcome its challenges under the present administration.
