Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has stirred fresh controversy after strongly defending President Bola Tinubu’s administration and insisting that Nigeria’s economic challenges are being overstated by critics. The 72-year-old thespian made the remarks during an appearance on actress Biola Adebayo’s podcast “Talk To B,” with the interview shared widely on Friday night.
Kosoko, a longtime open supporter of Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, argued that the current difficulties stem largely from failures by previous governments to plan for the country’s growing population. He maintained that the present administration is actively working to correct those inherited problems.
“Things are not as bad as some people made us understand. People always saying they’re hungry, go and check majority of them, what were they eating before Tinubu came?” he stated.
The actor acknowledged that Nigerians are facing hard times but urged patience. He defended the removal of the fuel subsidy, saying the money previously spent on it could now be redirected to more productive areas. Kosoko specifically pointed to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as evidence of positive steps, calling on students who have benefited from the loans and monthly stipends to publicly share their experiences.
In one of the more pointed moments of the conversation, he declared, “Let’s allow the man to finish his job. He’s doing well.” He expressed strong confidence that the president would eventually turn the situation around.
“My appeal is this. He will take us out of this mess. He is only cleaning up people’s mess.”
Kosoko also encouraged citizens to re-elect Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, claiming the opposition has little of substance to offer by comparison.
The veteran further suggested that some political opponents know the administration is on the right path but allow personal ambition to cloud their judgment. He admitted he himself feels the impact of current conditions yet still insisted the overall picture is better than the prevailing narrative.
Kosoko’s comments have already generated heated reactions online, with many Nigerians sharing personal stories of hardship and questioning the veteran’s perspective. Others have defended his right to express support for the government he has backed for years.