{
  "id": 15252641,
  "title": "Things aren’t as bad as people say, Jide Kosoko defends Tinubu",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/things-arent-as-bad-as-people-say-jide-kosoko-defends-tinubu-15252641",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T18:28:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/things-arent-as-bad-as-people-say-jide-kosoko-defends-tinubu/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Veteran Nigerian actor Jide Kosoko has come to the defense of President Bola Tinubu's administration in the face of public complaints about rising food prices and hunger. Kosoko appeared on the Talktobpodcast, hosted by Biola Adebayo, and challenged the notion that the country's situation was as dire as some Nigerians claim. He questioned individuals who complained of hunger about their circumstances prior to Tinubu's administration, asking what they were eating before. Kosoko emphasized that things were not as bad as people made them appear, stating, \"Things are not as bad as some people made us understand.\" He argued that Nigerians were finding ways to make money, and that those who have not yet succeeded would eventually have their turn. The actor acknowledged that many citizens were struggling but urged patience with the new administration, saying, \"Let’s try and allow Mr President and his team to finish what they started.\" Kosoko defended the removal of the fuel subsidy, likening it to borrowed money without a repayment plan, and highlighted the potential savings that could have been directed towards necessities like school fees. He advised Nigerians to be mindful of their own role in price hikes, blaming traders and sellers for raising prices when others do. Kosoko condemned destructive protests but acknowledged that constructive criticism was necessary for the government to address the concerns of its citizens. Despite the challenges, he affirmed his love for Nigeria and urged Nigerians to stop speaking negatively about their country.",
  "summary": "Veteran Nollywood actor, Jide Kosoko, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying things are not as bad as some Nigerians claim. Read More: https://punchng.com/things-arent-as-bad-as-people-say-jide-kosoko-defends-tinubu/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Premium Times",
        "title": "‘Things not as bad as people claim; Tinubu is fixing Nigeria’ — Jide Kosoko",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/things-not-as-bad-as-people-claim-tinubu-is-fixing-nigeria-jide-kosoko",
        "published": "2026-10-17T13:23:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Things aren’t as bad as people say, Jide Kosoko defends Tinubu",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/things-arent-as-bad-as-people-say-jide-kosoko-defends-tinubu",
        "published": "2026-10-17T18:04:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}