Yoruba actors are actively backing President Bola Tinubu for a second term primarily because of his long-standing history of financial assistance and infrastructure support for practitioners in the Nigerian film industry.
Veteran Nollywood actor Yinka Quadri explained the position of his colleagues during an interview on the African A-List programme.
According to Quadri, their support goes beyond personal benefit and is rooted in Tinubu’s loyalty to the entertainment sector dating back to his tenure as the Governor of Lagos State.
The actor recalled how Tinubu paid the hospital bills of late Nollywood actor Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe, when he was battling an illness.
“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.
He also recounted how Tinubu provided financial assistance following the death of actress Moji Olaiya in Canada in 2017, when colleagues were seeking funds to bring her remains back to Nigeria.
Quadri said he joined fellow actors, including Fathia Balogun and Yomi Fabiyi, to visit Tinubu’s residence in Bourdillon, Lagos, to request financial assistance for the arrangements.
According to him, Tinubu asked how much was needed and subsequently provided $25,000, exceeding the amount the actors had initially sought.
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“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,” the actor said.
Quadri added that Tinubu had continued to support the industry by making resources available whenever practitioners approached him for assistance.
Beyond his personal experiences, the actor cited infrastructure projects in the South-West as another reason for his support, mentioning the Papalanto to Sagamu road and the Sagamu to Ijebu-Ode route.
He acknowledged that the projects did not mean all the region’s infrastructure needs had been met but said he appreciated the efforts.
“I know it is not enough, but I praise him,” Quadri said.
The actor also pointed to the payment of pensions to retirees and the operations of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as areas he considered positive under the Tinubu administration.
Quadri’s comments come as political activities and discussions surrounding the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum, with supporters of the president making the case for his re-election.
Yoruba movie stars have previously publicly declared support for Tinubu, citing his relationship with the industry and his influence on practitioners.
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.
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