Veteran Yoruba actor Yinka Quadri has shared why he and others in the film industry are backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election. He pointed to Tinubu’s long-time financial help for entertainers and his work on infrastructure.
Quadri said their support is not just about personal gains. It also shows Tinubu’s history of helping people in the entertainment field since his time as Lagos State governor.
In an interview on the African A-List programme, which was uploaded on Saturday and seen by our correspondent on Monday, the actor remembered how Tinubu paid for the hospital bills of late Nollywood actor Babatunde Omidina, known as Baba Suwe, when he was ill.
“People do not understand it. It is not about what we want to eat. He has been taking care of those of us in the industry since he was the governor of Lagos,” Quadri said.
He also talked about how Tinubu gave financial help after actress Moji Olaiya died in Canada in 2017. At that time, other actors were looking for money to bring her body back to Nigeria.
Quadri said he, along with actors like Fathia Balogun and Yomi Fabiyi, went to Tinubu’s house in Bourdillon, Lagos, to ask for financial help for the arrangements.
He mentioned that Tinubu asked about the cost and then gave $25,000. “When Moji Olaiya died, I, Fathia Balogun, Yomi Fabiyi and others were trying to bring her back from abroad. We went to Bourdillon to seek financial support.
“He asked us for the cost and paid it. It was a total of $25,000,” the actor said.
Quadri added that Tinubu has kept helping the industry by giving resources whenever people ask him for help.
In addition to his personal stories, the actor pointed to infrastructure projects in the South-West as another reason for his support. He mentioned the Papalanto-Sagamu road and the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode route.
He stated that while these projects do not solve all the infrastructure issues in the region, he appreciates the efforts made. “I know it is not enough, but I praise him,” Quadri said.
The actor also highlighted pension payments to retirees and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund as positive areas under the Tinubu administration.
Quadri’s comments come as political talks heat up ahead of the 2027 general elections. Supporters of the President are pushing for his re-election.
Yoruba movie stars have also previously shown support for Tinubu, pointing to his connection with the industry and his influence on its members.
In 2022, Quadri joined other famous actors like Jide Kosoko, Fausat Balogun, Taiwo Hassan and Femi Adebayo in backing Tinubu’s presidential ambition before the 2023 election.
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