Salawa Abeni Recounts How Tinubu Came to Her Rescue in Difficult Period

Veteran Nigerian singer Salawa Abeni, popularly known as the queen of waka music, has recounted how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came to her rescue during a difficult period marked by illness, grief and financial hardship.

According to a report by The Nation on Thursday, October 22, 2026, Abeni shared the experience while celebrating 50 years of her career in the Nigerian music industry. She explained that the death of her son deeply affected her health and left her struggling to carry out her daily activities.

The singer said her condition deteriorated to the point that she could barely walk, forcing her to stay away from the stage and other professional engagements for a considerable period.

Faced with worsening health challenges and limited support, Abeni decided to seek assistance from Tinubu, who was a prominent political figure in Lagos at the time.

She recalled visiting his residence on Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where she was asked to wait while arrangements were made for him to see her.

According to Abeni, Tinubu initially struggled to recognise her because of the significant changes in her appearance caused by her illness. However, after seeing her condition, he reportedly took immediate steps to help.

She said Tinubu contacted the then Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, and requested that arrangements be made for her to travel to Dubai for medical treatment the following week.

Abeni explained that the Lagos State Government facilitated the trip, which helped her recover and eventually return to the stage to continue her music career.

The singer also expressed gratitude to transport union leader MC Oluomo for supporting her during another period of financial difficulty while she lived in Magodo, Lagos. She said he regularly assisted her whenever she reached out for help, particularly when she had no musical engagements.

During her anniversary celebration, Abeni publicly acknowledged his continued support and thanked him for attending the event.

Her account adds to previous testimonies about Tinubu’s assistance to entertainers. Nollywood actor Yinka Quadri had also claimed that Tinubu contributed $25,000 towards repatriating the remains of late actress Moji Olaiya from abroad.

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