Why Yoruba actors are supporting Tinubu – Jide Kosoko

Veteran actor, Jide Kosoko, has explained why Yoruba actors are supporting the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

During the week, when a video of some actors of Yoruba extraction such as Jike Kosoko, Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello), Yinka Quadri and Funke Daramola-Salako, it was criticised by many Nigerians who felt that celebrities should not use their star power to campaign for politicians.

Kosoko, in an interview with The Punch, said Tinubu had done a lot for the movie industry.

He said, “Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is not just a leader of note, he is a father figure and benefactor.

“I have benefited from him and his wife. As a matter of fact, I have had a relationship with his family for a long time. He is a focused leader; a leader of all leaders.

“He has personally developed many people in our industry, especially those that had health challenges. For example, when actress, Moji Olaiya, died in Canada, he was responsible for everything that had to with transporting her body back home.

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“If you observe his wife, you will see that she is a very quiet woman that does a lot for people. I know the number of sick people (in the industry) that she has also sent money to.

“The film industry has enjoyed Tinubu, as he was the first person to give us several hectares of land in Badagry to construct a film village.

“The succeeding administration gave us reasons the place was not conducive enough, and immediately, an effort was made to give us another place in Epe.”

Kosoko also stated that Tinubu had often shown interest in the film industry by ensuring that the leadership of associations in the industry was united.

When asked if practitioners in the film industry would be able to speak truth to power in the future, considering that they had publicly endorsed a particular candidate, he said, “If we ‘romance’ politicians as some people say and we are bold enough to tell them the truth through our productions, is there anything wrong with that?

“Are celebrities the only ones that embrace politicians? Don’t we have engineers, lawyers and other professionals moving with them? Does being a celebrity mean one is no longer Nigerian and that one does not have the right to one’s opinions?”