Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Veteran Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku has urged Nigerians to give President Bola Tinubu more time to address the country’s challenges, arguing that the problems confronting Nigeria did not begin with the current administration.
Anuku made the remarks during an appearance on The Honest Bunch podcast, an interview that was shared on the programme’s Instagram page on Monday, October 5, 2026. His comments come amid continuing public debate over the performance of Tinubu’s administration and growing political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The actor said Nigerians should exercise patience with Tinubu and allow his government sufficient time to implement its policies and pursue the objectives of its Renewed Hope agenda. He argued that the president inherited a country facing longstanding difficulties and should not be held solely responsible for problems that existed before he assumed office.
“Nigeria has to be patient for the renewed hope of this man (Tinubu), and the country was not spoiled by him,” Anuku said during the interview.
He questioned why criticism of Nigeria’s longstanding problems was being directed primarily at the current president, arguing that previous administrations also had responsibility for the condition of the country before Tinubu came into office.
According to the actor, Nigerians are expecting changes too quickly and should allow the government more time to deliver on its promises.
“He has to fix it now. He’s doing great. Nigeria should be patient. We’re in too much of a hurry,” Anuku said.
The actor’s comments amount to an open defence of Tinubu at a time when the president’s economic policies, security record and wider governance have remained subjects of intense public discussion. Anuku, however, did not present his remarks as an official government position but as his personal assessment of the administration and the need for patience.
He also said he remained supportive of Tinubu and expected the president to complete his constitutional tenure. Anuku suggested that removing or replacing the president would not necessarily guarantee better leadership, arguing that a future leader could perform worse.
“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,” the actor said.
He further rejected suggestions that he had been financially induced to speak positively about the president or his administration. Anuku insisted that nobody was paying him to defend Tinubu.
The actor also questioned whether Nigerians could be certain that whoever succeeded Tinubu would perform better. His position was that the country should not automatically assume that a change in leadership would produce better results.
“How many people can be better than him?” Anuku asked, while suggesting that a successor could turn out to be worse.
The comments have generated attention because they come as political parties and prospective candidates position themselves for the 2027 elections. Tinubu, who assumed office on May 29, 2023, is eligible to seek another term under Nigeria’s constitutional framework, although the political contest surrounding the next presidential election is still developing.
Anuku’s latest remarks are also consistent with previous public statements in which he has expressed support for Tinubu. In August 2026, the actor was reported to have urged Nigerians to support the president at an event connected with a pro-Tinubu political organisation. He described the president as a leader who loves the country and called for grassroots engagement ahead of the 2027 elections.
His latest intervention, however, focused less on political mobilisation and more on patience with the government. He maintained that Nigerians should consider the historical nature of the country’s difficulties rather than attributing every problem to the administration that currently occupies the federal government.
Tinubu’s presidency has been marked by major economic policy changes, including reforms that have significantly altered the operating environment for Nigerians and businesses. His administration has defended those measures as necessary steps to reform the economy and put the country on a stronger long-term footing. Critics, meanwhile, have continued to raise concerns about the immediate impact of economic hardship on households.
Anuku did not provide detailed economic data to support his assessment of the administration. Instead, his argument centred on the broader principle that governments need time to address problems that accumulated over several years.
The actor also spoke about personal difficulties during the podcast appearance, moving beyond politics to discuss experiences that have affected his life and career. He spoke about the death of his wife, whom he described as the mother of his children, and said the loss was deeply painful.
Anuku said the experience contributed to a difficult period in his life. He also spoke about what he described as betrayal by some people he regarded as friends. According to him, his faith has since helped him regain peace and strength.
The discussion also touched on previous controversies surrounding the actor after videos circulated online that prompted speculation about his wellbeing. Anuku has previously rejected claims that he was mentally unstable, saying reports and social media commentary surrounding those videos affected his reputation and career.
His latest appearance therefore combined political commentary with reflections on his personal experiences, with the actor presenting himself as someone who had endured difficult periods and emerged with renewed confidence.
On the political issue, however, his central message remained clear: Nigerians should be patient with Tinubu and give his administration more time to address the country’s longstanding challenges.
The position is likely to continue generating debate because public assessments of the Tinubu administration remain sharply divided. Supporters of the government have pointed to its reform programme and argued that difficult measures are necessary to address structural weaknesses, while critics have focused on the immediate pressures facing citizens and demanded faster improvements.
Anuku’s intervention does not resolve that wider political debate, but it adds the voice of a prominent Nollywood figure to those calling for patience with the president.
As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 elections, public figures are increasingly expressing positions on the direction of the country and the performance of the current government. Anuku has now made his own position explicit, saying Tinubu should be allowed to continue in office and pursue his agenda.
For the actor, the country’s difficulties require time, continuity and an understanding of the problems inherited by successive administrations. His appeal is that Nigerians should resist what he considers excessive impatience and allow the government an opportunity to deliver on its promises.
Whether Nigerians accept that argument will remain a matter of public and political debate, but Anuku’s comments have placed him firmly among the public figures currently defending Tinubu and calling for greater patience with his administration.
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