Celebs

Jide Kosoko, Others Under Fire For Endorsing Tinubu For President

Jide Kosoko alongside a number of other Yoruba movie actors have come under fire on Wednesday after they openly endorsed Bola Ahmed Tinubu for President come 2023.

Kosoko was among the many Yoruba actors who appeared in the 1-minute video clip shared by fellow actor Yinka Quadri on his Instagram page where all the actors present took turns to voice support for BAT in their native Yoruba tongue.

In addition to Jide Kosoko and Yinka Quadri, other notable Yoruba actors seen in the clip were; Fausat Balogun, Taiwo Hassan, Femi Adebayo, Shola Kosoko, Faithia Williams, Saheed Balogun, Murphy Afolabi, and Eniola Ajao.

In the caption section of the post, Quadri further emphasized what he had said in the video writing that it was “crystal clear” that it was the turn of the Yorubas to serve as the nation’s president and claimed that Tinubu was the best candidate because “he is a man who is ready to sacrifice all he has for his fatherland.” The actor went on to laud Tinubu describing him as “a bridge builder across regional, ethnic, and religious lines that is capable of uniting the country.” He further added that “Majority of actors who venture into politics today do so because of the influence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Shortly after the video was released, Jide Kosoko came under fire on social media where many criticized his support for BAT as being borne out of ethnic/tribal bigotry and personal interest rather than on the grounds of competence. An old photo of Kosoko protesting against Goodluck Jonathan’s government in the #OccupyNigeria movement was dug up with many noting how he has been quiet on other issues that have since plagued Nigerians such as the #EndSARS movement.

Jide Kosoko

A user with the handle @Afatiafu_ wrote;

“Jide Kosoko and others gave us Buhari in 2015. These are the descendants who should have considered posterity. Today, they left me with the consequences of poverty, joblessness and injustice. The best they can do is to right that evil. Yet, go ahead to support potential threat.”

Another @DahkDutch Tweeted;

“The fact that Odunlade was not even in the video, has discredited it already. Jide Kosoko is a known political jobber, he endorsed Buhari, so, he will definitely endorse Tinubu too.

But we have gone past that stage, of listening to people who feed from politicians”

@SirDavidBent quickly garnered likes for his tweet that read;

“Before you cancel Yoruba Nollywood, not every actor there is supporting Tinubu. Okunnu called out the government in a video and rained curses on them for the incessant hardship. He wasn’t in that video with Jide Kosoko. Neither was Odunlade. Some people still have conscience.”

Celebs

Nollywood Veteran Hanks Anuku captured roaming the streets of Abuja

A viral video showing veteran Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku on a roadside in Abuja has sparked concern among Nigerians on social media. The footage, believed to have been recorded recently, shows the 64-year-old actor appearing distressed, holding a disposable cup and seemingly talking to himself. Some social media users speculated that he may have been under the influence of alcohol, though this remains unconfirmed.

Sharing the clip online, eyewitnesses appealed for support, writing:

“Please Nigerians, Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku needs our help. Please repost and share so he can get help.”
The video has generated mixed reactions, with some expressing concern for the actor’s well-being, while others urged the public not to jump to conclusions.

One user said, “He made his choice. Donate for him and he will still visit his drugs and drinks. Best advice na the one wey person advice himself.”

Several fans called on his fellow actors and the Nigerian Actors Guild to provide the actor with the necessary medical and financial support.\

Anuku previously made headlines in November 2022 after a viral video showed him dressed in worn-out clothing while wandering the streets, prompting widespread speculation about his mental health. The actor later dismissed claims that he was battling mental illness. However, this latest video shows concerns over the state of his mental health and well-being.

During his time in Nollywood, Hanks Anuku was known for playing the archetypal bad-boy role, which earned him fame through his performances in movies like ‘The Senator.’ The actor’s current situation sheds light on the issues confronting movie stars and other celebrities who often battle with depression and financial crisis after leaving the limelight.

Celebs

“I can never marry a Nigerian” — DJ Cuppy

DJ Cuppy has decided against marrying a Nigerian man, and she has a reason that says as much about the unique pressures of dating as a billionaire’s daughter as it does about the men involved.

Speaking in a resurfaced interview, the DJ and media personality said her last Nigerian partner spent more energy trying to secure a meeting with her father, business mogul Femi Otedola, than actually pursuing her.

“I can never marry a Nigerian. The last Nigerian I dated was already asking me when he could meet my dad. I don’t even think they actually like me,” she said.

The comment was received well because it touched something many high-profile women have spoken about privately, which is the difficulty of knowing whether interest is genuine or transactional when your last name opens doors that most people spend careers trying to reach.

Cuppy added that her father has no strong preference on nationality, only that she eventually gets married. She also used the moment to express happiness about her sister Temi Otedola’s relationship with star Mr Eazi.

Cuppy’s romantic history has rarely been quiet. Her most high-profile relationship was with British boxer Ryan Taylor, which moved quickly from a 2022 engagement to a 2023 breakup and a series of very public exchanges in the years that followed.

In early 2024, Cuppy posted something her exes interpreted as a taunt, suggesting they could not afford to be where she was without her help. Taylor responded in the comments with: “Neither can you.”

The back-and-forth did not stop there. In 2025, Taylor appeared on a podcast and alleged that Cuppy had expressed discomfort around Nigerians, claiming she discouraged him from hiring Nigerian staff and was uncomfortable when Nigerian fans approached her in public.

That allegation, largely unaddressed at the time, now circles back with some irony given her latest comments.

Before Taylor, Cuppy was publicly linked to Davido’s manager Asa Asika and Nigerian footballer Victor Anichebe.

She has since said she prefers low-key, non-celebrity partners, someone with a regular job, away from the spotlight that has followed most of her previous relationships.

Celebs

‘I smoked 40 sticks a day for 13 years’: Ebuka opens up on nicotine addiction as Banky W revisits porn struggle

Ebuka Obi-Uchendu says he smoked up to 40 cigarettes daily for 13 years, while Banky W revisited his past pornography addiction on Mentality with Ebuka. Ebuka Obi-Uchendu has revealed that he began smoking in JSS3 and spent the next 13 years addicted to cigarettes, reaching a peak of two packs, roughly 40 sticks, every single day by the time he was in university.

The television host disclosed the latest episode of his podcast Mentality with Ebuka, which aired on Friday, May 22. The episode featured singer and pastor Banky W and medical content creator Aproko Doctor in a candid conversation about addiction, its origins, and the long road out of it.

“I started smoking in JSS3, which is crazy young,” Ebuka said. “It was basically peer pressure, wanting to prove myself, wanting to belong. By the time I was done with secondary school, I had become full-on. Got into university, and by university, I was doing about two packs a day. That’s about 40 sticks of cigarettes every single day.”

He added that his exit from the habit was less a dramatic decision and more a test of willpower. “The last stick of cigarettes I had was in February 2008. I didn’t quit. I just kept saying let me see how much longer I will hold out for, and now it’s been almost 18 years.”

Banky W used the same platform to revisit a confession he had made publicly before, his years-long struggle with pornography addiction, tracing it back to a freshman dormitory in a New York university where a classmate had shared an open hard drive filled with explicit content accessible to the entire floor.

“I wonder how many of us got trapped in that moment,” he said. He described the experience of trying to stop as a confrontation with something far more entrenched than he had anticipated.

“When it’s now time to stop, you realise you’re dealing with demons that are much stronger than you. That was where the reality dawned on me.” He said it took a deliberate journey to reach a place of freedom, and that he has since addressed the issue openly from the pulpit, part of what he described as a growing willingness among pastors to tackle subjects previously considered too uncomfortable for the church.

The episode is the latest in Ebuka’s Mentality series, which has carved out a space for honest, personal conversations that Nigerian public figures rarely have on record.