Veteran Nollywood actor Jide Kosoko has urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, arguing that the country’s current hardship partly reflects problems left unresolved by previous administrations.
Kosoko acknowledged the difficulties facing Nigerians but maintained that the situation was not as bad as some critics portrayed it, insisting that the President was taking steps to address longstanding economic challenges.
The actor spoke during an interview on Talk To B, a podcast hosted by actress Biola Adebayo, where he defended the administration’s policies and called on Nigerians to be patient with the government.
He blamed successive governments for failing to plan adequately for Nigeria’s growing population, arguing that the neglect had contributed to the problems the country was now confronting.
“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,” Kosoko said.
He also challenged some Nigerians complaining about hunger to reflect on their sources of livelihood before Tinubu assumed office, arguing that economic opportunities were not distributed automatically.
“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? What were they eating?” he asked.
Kosoko attributed part of Nigeria’s economic difficulties to previous governments’ failure to remove the petrol subsidy, conceding that leaders of his generation had contributed to the problem.
He argued that the subsidy removal was necessary to force the country to confront its financial limitations, adding that the money saved could support other public needs.
“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,” he said.
The actor cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund as an example of a government intervention that could ease the financial burden on families, particularly those paying their children’s school fees.
He urged beneficiaries of government programmes to share their experiences to help Nigerians understand the impact of the policies.
Kosoko acknowledged that the country had yet to overcome its economic challenges but said he believed the administration was pursuing the right course, pointing to investment partnerships and endorsements of the government’s economic direction.
He cited comments attributed to former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as evidence that Nigeria was moving in the right direction.
“The suffering we should have suffered in the past is what we’re all suffering now. If our generation is still helping ensure that this generation still enjoys it, we have little time left,” he said, calling for collective efforts to address the country’s problems.
Kosoko also dismissed expectations that the government should distribute food items directly to households to demonstrate its commitment to citizens, arguing that economic reforms and social interventions should be assessed by their broader impact.
He urged Nigerians to allow Tinubu to complete his programme, insisting that the President deserved another term in office.
“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,” he said.
The actor argued that opposition parties had yet to convince him that they offered a better alternative to the incumbent, adding that criticism should help the government identify areas requiring improvement.
“My appeal is this, please, my people, let’s try and allow Mr President and his team to finish what they started. Honestly, I bet we will all laugh at the end of the day,” he said.
Kosoko maintained that Nigerians would need to endure present difficulties to address structural economic problems and improve conditions for future generations.
“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,” he said.
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