Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku has sparked reactions online after defending President Bola Tinubu and urging Nigerians to be patient with his administration.
Anuku made the comments during an appearance on The Honest Bunch podcast, where he argued that Nigeria’s problems did not begin under Tinubu.
According to the actor, previous administrations also contributed to the challenges facing the country. He said Nigerians should give Tinubu time to address the problems he inherited.
“Nigeria has to be patient for the renewed hope of this man, and he did not spoil the country. There were people there before him. Why didn’t they go and attack those people? He has to fix it now,” Anuku said.
The actor also suggested that Nigerians should allow Tinubu to complete his tenure. He argued that replacing him could bring another leader who might perform even worse.
“So the devil you know is better,” he said.
His comments quickly generated criticism online. Some Nigerians questioned his position, while others accused him of receiving payment to defend the administration.
Anuku rejected the allegation and insisted that nobody paid him to speak in Tinubu’s favour.
“No one pays me. How many people can be better than him?” he said.
The actor also opened up about a difficult period in his personal life during the interview.
Anuku spoke about the death of the mother of his children and described the loss as deeply painful. He said the experience affected him emotionally and led to a period of depression.
He added that he still misses her but has relied on his faith to cope with the loss.
Anuku also spoke about betrayal from people he once considered friends. According to him, some people turned against him when he least expected it.
His comments come months after a video of the actor undergoing a deliverance session at a church went viral. During the session, Anuku spoke about a difficult period in his life and described a spiritual experience that he said helped him find his way again.
Known for his tough-guy roles in Nollywood films during the 1990s and 2000s, Anuku remains one of the industry’s recognisable faces.
