The entertainment industry erupted in joy yesterday, when finally movie goddess, Kate Henshaw and her Do Good comedy series boyfriend, Basorge Tariah, after months of not being on speaking terms, reconciled.
The duo reconciled at the 50th birthday Surprise Party, organized by Port Harcourt big boy, His Excellency, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, at the Villa Medicci restaurant in Victoria Island for Basorge Tariah who turned 50 four days earlier. Okey Bakassi had the mandate to invite 50 0f Basorge’s close friends.
Until yesterday, all efforts to reconcile Kate and Basorge, who were hitherto the envy of Hollywood actors/actresses, because of the special relationship they enjoyed, curiously as best friends, failed.
Indeed, Amaechi was to confess: “Until I saw it between Kate and Basorge, I didn’t believe a man and a woman can be the best of friends. So I was not happy that this special friendship was being rocked and the two of them not on speaking terms. Two of them are my friends and I want them to return to being best friends again.”
A mischievous Bovi who was one of the comperes was to throw a pointed jab at Amaechi: “Oga, if you can reconcile Kate and Basorge, it will give me hope that one day Wicked, sorry Wike and Amaechi can also reconcile! And the entire hall erupted in laughter. But the import was not lost. It is a near impossibility given previous efforts at it, to bring about a reconciliation between Basorge and Kate Henshaw.
It was, therefore, not surprising the reconciliation did not come on any platter of gold. It took an engaged coercion, cajoling, pleading and willingness on the part of the duo of Kate and Basorge to forgive and let go.
A graphic sense of the animosity between the two had erupted and almost led to a walkout earlier in the evening. Neither greeted nor acknowledged the presence of the other.
“What is she doing here?” Basorge asked angrily when Kate walked into Villa Medicci, in her short designer dress and high heels which exposed her sexy, slim long legs.
“What is she doing here? Why is she here?’ he kept asking as he got off his seat to walk away from sitting on the same table with her. Kate who had a broad smile on her face as she walked in, was visibly angry, her large eyes brazen, when she set her eyes on her erstwhile best friend.
“I invited her,” Amaechi volunteered trying to persuade the duo to keep their cool.
Amaechi was to publicly state how Kate was forced by him to attend the Surprise Party. “I asked Okey Bakassi to call her, and when she was told that it was a Surprise birthday party for Basorge, she flatly said ‘No, I am not coming.’ I had to call her myself to order her to come and she reluctantly agreed. But just when she was expected to come to the party, she called me to say that it was raining heavily, that she can’t come anymore. I had to insist that she must come; rain or no rain. I’m glad Kate eventually is here,” the Transportation Minister informed.
On her part, when it was time for goodwill messages, Kate bluntly refused to make any comment and when prevailed upon could only say, “thank you for inviting me. I wish you all best wishes,” and sat down to shouts of NO, NO, NO, say something. But she adamantly refused even when speaker upon speaker appealed to her to forgive and reconcile.
The ice was, however, broken when Basorge took the microphone, apologized profusely for whatever wrongs, right or wrong that he had committed against her. In an impassioned speech which brought not a few to tears, he insisted that though he has many friends, Kate Henshaw has always been and will always be his best friend.”
Of course the dams at this stage burst open, emotion climbing to a crescendo, as a tearful Kate ran and embraced Basorge, holding him tightly and exchanging whispered tears laden “l am sorrys.”
