By Olumide Iyanda
Actor, comedian, dancer and director, Basorge Tariah, has reaffirmed his loyalty to former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
He made the declaration in a message posted on Facebook late night Sunday.
According to the man also known as Do Good, his friendship with Amaechi dates back to their secondary school days and did not change while the latter was governor or thereafter. It is a relationship built on loyalty and conviction.
Amaechi is caught the storm of corruption allegation by incumbent Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, and others. His open criticism of former President Goodluck Jonathan and interference with the judiciary in his state have also come under the spotlight.
Wike recently inaugurated the Justice George Omereji Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe the sale of valued Rivers assets and other matters during Amaechi’s tenure.
There is also an ongoing campaign that President Muhammadu Buhari is protecting Amaechi because of the role he played in his ascension to Aso Rock.
Basorge would not be drawn into political argument, saying that he will not trade his conviction for any amount of cash or blackmail.
His post reads:
I am a loyal friend who will never deny or abandon his friend. Some persons have asked me, “what did you gain from supporting your friend Amaechi?” My reply has always been the same. I did not become Amaechi’s friend when he became a Governor. I have known him since our secondary school days, as a friend who stands by and with his friends. I have admired his guts and forthrightness. I have followed his passion for Port Harcourt; our darling “Pitaqua” of then days. I have had my friend stand by me when I needed a friend. So, eat your heart out, but allow me to say, I still love, respect and follow my friend and Leader: Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. The Lion of Niger Delta. It is my firm position, that defines my degree of loyalty and conviction. I will not change this for any amount of cash and blackmail. I no be Politician, I be person friend. Abi Na you go screen friends for me?
Basorge also had this to say in a July 2015 interview with QED: “I had a friend whom I believe I needed to support. That took me closer to Rivers State back then. I have always been a believer in the philosophy of (former Governor Rotimi) Amaechi in the area of development, not necessarily political outlook. I felt there was a need to support his idea.”
He recollected that Amaechi was one of the few people who stood by him after he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and needed treatment a couple of years ago.
“I will never deny the support of Governor Amaechi and a few other people at that time,” he told QED.
