Veteran Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku has appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with President Bola Tinubu, arguing that the country’s challenges predated the current administration.
Anuku made the call during an interview on The Honest Bunch podcast, shared on the programme’s Instagram page on Monday.
The actor said Tinubu inherited several longstanding problems and should be given sufficient time to implement his policies and address the challenges confronting the country.
“Nigeria has to be patient for the renewed hope of this man (Tinubu), and the country was not spoiled by him, you know. There were people there before him now,” Anuku said.
“Why didn’t they go and attack those people? He has to fix it now. He’s doing great. Nigeria should be patient. We’re in too much of a hurry.”
Anuku also expressed support for Tinubu remaining in office for the duration of his constitutional tenure, saying he expected the President to complete his term.
“I’m going to be hanging out with Mr President himself. There’s nothing you can do about that. He has to serve his term, his tenure, you know,” he said.
The actor further argued that replacing Tinubu could result in Nigerians getting a leader whose performance might be worse than that of the incumbent.
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“No one pays me. How many people can be better than him because he’s this and that? Most people who are going to come, maybe after, maybe they’re even worse off. So the devil, you know, is better,” Anuku said.
He dismissed suggestions that he was being financially induced to defend or promote the Tinubu administration.
Beyond politics, Anuku spoke about some of the personal challenges he has experienced, including the death of his wife and what he described as betrayal by some people he regarded as friends.
The actor said the death of the mother of his children affected him deeply and left him depressed for a period.
“It’s difficult for somebody in Nigeria to help you. When I lost my woman, you know, mother of my children, it’s deep, and it hurts. I was depressed a bit. Sometimes I’d miss her, and I just wanted to get out,” he said.
Anuku said he had since found renewed strength and peace through his faith, despite the difficult experiences he encountered.
“It’s all good now. God loves me more. Some friends betrayed me as well. Some want you dead. Some even want you to go mad and all that.”
Anuku had previously spoken about the impact of his wife’s death, saying the loss affected both his personal life and career.
The actor also attracted public attention after videos circulated on social media that were alleged to show him experiencing mental health difficulties. Anuku rejected the claims, saying the videos damaged his reputation and career and caused him significant emotional distress.