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Veteran Yoruba actor Yinka Quadri has explained why he and other practitioners in the Yoruba film industry are supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, citing his longstanding financial assistance to entertainers and contributions to infrastructure development.
Quadri said the support was not driven solely by personal interests but by Tinubu’s history of helping members of the entertainment industry, dating back to his tenure as governor of Lagos State.
The actor made the remarks during an interview on the African A-List programme, where he recounted instances in which Tinubu provided financial assistance to entertainers facing personal and professional challenges.
According to Quadri, the president had maintained a longstanding relationship with practitioners in the industry and had repeatedly supported them when they needed assistance.
“People do not understand it. It is not about what we want to eat. He has been taking care of those of us in the industry since he was the governor of Lagos,” Quadri said.
Tinubu paid Baba Suwe’s medical bills — Quadri
The veteran actor recalled how Tinubu reportedly paid the hospital bills of late Nollywood actor Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe, when he was battling an illness.
Quadri cited the incident as one of the examples of Tinubu’s support for entertainers, arguing that his relationship with the industry predated his emergence as president.
He said such experiences had influenced his perception of the president and contributed to his decision to support Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Quadri also recounted Tinubu’s financial assistance following the death of actress Moji Olaiya in Canada in 2017.
According to him, several colleagues were making arrangements to bring Olaiya’s remains back to Nigeria but needed financial support to cover the expenses.
He said he joined fellow actors, including Fathia Balogun and Yomi Fabiyi, to visit Tinubu’s residence in Bourdillon, Lagos, to seek assistance.
The actor said Tinubu asked how much was required and subsequently provided $25,000 to support the arrangements.
“When Moji Olaiya died, I, Fathia Balogun, Yomi Fabiyi and others were trying to bring her back from abroad. We went to Bourdillon to seek financial support.
“He asked us for the cost and paid it. It was a total of $25,000,” Quadri said.
He added that Tinubu had continued to make resources available whenever practitioners approached him for assistance.
Road projects, pensions influenced support
Beyond the financial assistance he said entertainers had received, Quadri identified infrastructure development in the South-West as another reason for backing the president.
He specifically mentioned the Papalanto-Sagamu road and the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode route, describing the projects as part of the developments he appreciated under Tinubu’s administration.
The actor acknowledged that the projects did not mean all the region’s infrastructure needs had been addressed but maintained that the efforts deserved recognition.
“I know it is not enough, but I praise him,” he said.
Quadri also pointed to pension payments to retirees and the operations of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as areas he considered positive under the Tinubu administration.
He did not suggest that these developments had resolved all the challenges facing Nigerians but cited them among the factors informing his support for the president.
2027 election discussions gather momentum
Quadri’s comments come as political discussions surrounding the 2027 general elections continue to gain momentum, with supporters of Tinubu making arguments in favour of his re-election.
Yoruba movie stars have previously declared support for Tinubu, with some citing his longstanding relationships with practitioners in the entertainment industry.
In 2022, Quadri joined other prominent actors, including Jide Kosoko, Fausat Balogun, Taiwo Hassan and Femi Adebayo, in expressing support for Tinubu’s presidential ambition ahead of the 2023 election.
His latest remarks further highlight the role of personal relationships, financial assistance and perceptions of government performance in shaping the political positions of some entertainment industry figures.
Quadri’s explanation represents his personal account of why he supports Tinubu’s second-term ambition and why he believes other practitioners share that position.
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