Veteran actor [Hanks Anuku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanks_Anuku) has called on Nigerians to be patient with President [Bola Tinubu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bola_Tinubu), noting that many of the nation’s problems existed before his administration and should not be wholly blamed on him.
He made the remarks during an interview on the podcast “The Honest Bunch”, which was posted on the show’s Instagram page on Monday.
Anuku explained that the president inherited a range of challenges and requires adequate time to address them.
He also affirmed his continued support for Tinubu’s agenda despite the criticism aimed at the president and his government.
“Nigeria must be patient for the renewed hope that this man brings, and the country was not ruined by him. There were people there before him. Why didn’t they go and attack those people? He has to fix it now. He’s doing great. Nigeria should be patient. We’re in too much of a hurry. That’s why everybody…,” Anuku said.
He added that Nigerians have no option but to allow Tinubu to complete two terms, arguing that his successor is unlikely to perform better.
Anuku stressed that no one paid him to praise the president or his administration. “I’m going to be hanging out with the President himself. There’s nothing you can do about that. He has to serve his term, his tenure, you know. No one pays me. How many people can be better than him because he’s this and that? Most people who are going to come, maybe after, maybe they’re even worse off. So the devil, you know, is better,” he said.
The actor also opened up about personal betrayals and the loss of his wife during the interview.
He reflected on the hardships he faced from friends and within the entertainment industry, expressing gratitude to God for keeping him alive. “It’s difficult for somebody in Nigeria to help you. When I lost my woman, mother of my children, it’s deep, and it hurts. I was depressed a bit. Sometimes I’d miss her, and I just wanted to get out. It’s all good now. God loves me more. Some friends betrayed me as well. Some want you dead. Some even want you to go mad and all that,” he said.
Earlier Premium Times reported that Anuku, while testifying at the Mountain of God International Ministry (SMOGIM) in Abuja, recounted how his wife’s death nearly drove him into seclusion.
In several interviews, he has described the loss as one of the most painful experiences of his life. After her death, he withdrew from people and spent a long period in isolation, eventually finding healing through his faith.
The actor also made headlines after videos circulated on social media that allegedly showed him experiencing mental health issues. He denied the claims, saying the clips damaged his reputation, harmed his career and caused emotional distress.