Jide Kosoko Supports Tinubu, Says Nigeria is Improving

Veteran actor Jide Kosoko has defended President Bola Tinubu’s administration amid criticisms about Nigeria's economy. He believes the situation is not as bad as some people claim.

The 72-year-old actor spoke during an interview on "Talk To B", a podcast hosted by his colleague, actress Biola Adebayo. The video was shared on YouTube on Friday night.

Kosoko said Mr Tinubu is making strong efforts to solve the country’s problems.

As a supporter of the president and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kosoko believes the current government is receiving backlash for issues passed down from previous administrations.

He stated: "People don’t queue to make money; everybody works for their money and business. Things are not as bad as some people made us understand. People make money here and there. Some people might still be unlucky, but that doesn’t mean their time will not come. It is not turn by turn. You can have your money today; my own time can come today too. I need not wait for you. It all depends on what I do and what you do."

Kosoko pointed out that the current issues are due to past governments not planning for Nigeria's growing population. He said, "The situation of things now is because the country’s previous governments really did not plan towards the population that was increasing. That was the main problem. They didn’t prepare enough for the gradual population increase. If they had met these challenges, we might not have so many problems on the ground, which Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now fixing. He’s now fixing the country."

The actor also mentioned that many Nigerians complaining about hunger had no real source of income before Mr Tinubu took office. He noted that government policies changed every year even before Tinubu became president, but past administrations failed to handle the changes well.

"When you see people saying, I am hungry. Go and check the majority of those people saying that. Before Tinubu came, what were they doing?"

Kosoko explained that the reluctance of past governments to remove fuel subsidies partly led to Nigeria's current problems. He admitted that leaders from his generation failed to end the subsidy, making things worse. Now, he said they are working to correct these issues.

He said Nigerians must face some challenges together to improve the situation. "The free money being used to satisfy you and me needs to be taken back for us to face reality. The reality is that we are not buoyant enough to start enjoying what we are enjoying. We still have quite a few other things to do. If the subsidy were not removed and fuel prices were down, you would still spend the excess you pay now on necessary things."

Kosoko urged students and others benefiting from Tinubu's policies to share their experiences about the government's impact. He said Nigerians should not expect the government to bring food directly to their homes to win their support.

The actor acknowledged that Nigeria is still facing economic issues but insisted that the administration is introducing policies that are making a difference and attracting investments.

He called on Nigerians to be patient as the country rebuilds, expressing his belief that the president is on the right path. "If people like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala confirm that we are on the right track. She has nothing to gain from such a statement. Then, we are on the right track."

Kosoko encouraged Nigerians to re-elect Mr Tinubu in the next presidential election, arguing that opposition parties do not have much to offer compared to the current government. He stated that Mr Tinubu understands Nigerians' difficulties and welcomes criticism of his administration.

According to Kosoko, this criticism helps the government identify problems and improve. He added that the president is investing in developing people who are preparing for future leadership roles.

"Let’s allow the man to finish his job. He’s doing well. Regardless of what his opponents are saying, and at any rate, there is nothing he is doing that is bad before them. They want to rubbish what he is doing so you will think they have stocks, but unfortunately, he is already there doing what he understands."

He appealed to Nigerians to support Mr Tinubu and his team to finish their work. "Honestly, I bet we will all laugh at the end of the day. Then the problem will be, after 2031, who takes over? Because Bola Ahmed Tinubu is going now."

Kosoko concluded by emphasizing that the current struggles are due to past mistakes. He encouraged Nigerians to endure the pain together to reach a better future. "My appeal is this. He will take us out of this mess. He is only cleaning up people’s mess. We should know. If we don’t cooperate, let it happen, and join in enduring this pain, we won’t reach the promised land. But by God’s grace, we will get to the promised land."