Hanks Anuku’s Tinubu comment stirs online talk

On October 5, Nollywood veteran Hanks Anuku sparked debate after urging Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu in a new podcast clip.

The comment came from a clip of The Honest Bunch podcast posted to Instagram ahead of its 6pm premiere. The clip went viral within hours.

What Hanks said - from the clip

According to Pulse Nigeria, Anuku argued Nigeria's problems predate Tinubu. He said: "Nigeria has to be patient for the renewed hope of this man, and the country was not spoiled by him. There were people there before him. Why didn't they go and attack those people?"

In the same interview reported by The Nation, he added: "He is doing great. Nigeria should be patient. We are too much in a hurry."

He suggested Nigerians should allow Tinubu to complete his tenure, saying a successor could be worse. "So the devil you know, is better than the angel we don't," he said.

Addressing claims he was paid, he said in the clip: "No one pays me."

Later he spoke about personal loss, revealing how the death of the mother of his children left him depressed and how faith helped him recover.

How people reacted - from social media

Reaction online was swift and largely critical. On X and Instagram, many accused him of dismissing hardship. Some claimed he was paid, an allegation he denied.

• Critical: User @abazwhyllzz wrote: "Person don use 4 years of my life play you said I should be patient, lol." Others mocked him, saying he should call Tinubu if he needs help.
• Defensive: User @ziondflutter wrote: "Everyone is entitled to their opinions."

On The Honest Bunch Instagram page, comments were mixed, with some agreeing previous governments share blame while others said celebrities should avoid politics.

Why celebrity politics gets attention

Celebrity political comments trend because stars like Anuku carry nostalgia. When they call for patience during hardship, it feels dismissive. It also fuels debate about paid endorsements in Nollywood, making every pro-government comment suspicious.

Sources: Pulse Nigeria, The Nation, The Honest Bunch Instagram.