Nigerian dancehall music veteran, Daddy Showkey, has described former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori, as a dear friend who has been very good to him.
The 46-year-old made the statement in an exclusive interview with Qed.ng.
“James Ibori is my friend; he is my person,” he said of the politician who recently returned to Nigeria after serving prison term in London for money laundering.
Many Nigerians criticised the manner Ibori’s associates, aides and kinsmen celebrated his return which culminated in an elaborate thanksgiving at the First Baptist Church in his hometown, Oghara last week.
For such critics, Showkey said, “if you I have a friend that is an armed robber and he is sent to jail. If he comes back after paying his due to the society then I am free to go and see him. Nobody can deny me of that right because I am Showkey.”
He blamed his inability to attend Ibori’s thanksgiving on prior engagement.
“I had an event on the day of that thanksgiving. That is why I did not go.
“I heard what people were writing, what people were saying.
“Everybody has right to anybody.
“If you say the man is bad, well I have a lot of friends that people say are bad but they are still my friends.”
Asked if he thinks Ibori is a bad man, he replied “I did not say Ibori is a bad man.
“The man was away for about seven years and came back.
“What if he had died in jail?
“If his community is happy and celebrating that their son is back; they are free to do that.
“Ras Kimono and Orits Wiliki are free to go to his thanksgiving.
“The fact that he is not good to you does not mean he is bad to them.”
While he would not say if he benefitted financially from the 57-year-old, Showkey said “Ibori has been good to me. He is my person. Confirmed. I don’t hide it and I will soon visit him.”
