Veteran Yoruba actor Yinka Quadri has attributed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition to the president’s longstanding assistance to members of the entertainment industry and his administration’s infrastructure and social interventions.
Quadri said Tinubu had supported entertainers since his time as governor of Lagos State, stressing that the backing was not simply about personal benefits but also about acknowledging the president’s past contributions to the industry.
The actor spoke during an interview on the African A-List programme, where he recalled how Tinubu paid the medical bills of late actor Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as Baba Suwe, while 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 after the death of actress Moji Olaiya in Canada in 2017, when her colleagues were seeking funds to repatriate her remains to Nigeria.
According to Quadri, he visited Tinubu’s residence in Bourdillon, Lagos, alongside actors Fathia Balogun, Yomi Fabiyi and others to request support for the arrangements.
He said Tinubu asked about the cost and subsequently provided $25,000, an amount he described as the total sum paid for 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,” he said.
Quadri added that the president had continued to assist entertainers whenever they approached him for help.
Beyond his personal experiences, the actor cited infrastructure projects in the South-West as another reason for his support, specifically mentioning the Papalanto-Sagamu road and the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode route.
Although he acknowledged that the projects did not address all the region’s infrastructure needs, he said he appreciated the efforts.
“I know it is not enough, but I praise him,” Quadri said.
He also listed pension payments to retirees and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as positive developments under the Tinubu administration.
Quadri’s comments come as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections intensify, with supporters of the president making the case for his re-election.
Yoruba movie stars have previously expressed support for Tinubu, pointing to his relationship with the entertainment industry and his influence on practitioners.
In 2022, Quadri joined actors including Jide Kosoko, Fausat Balogun, Taiwo Hassan and Femi Adebayo in backing Tinubu’s presidential ambition ahead of the 2023 election.
