Tears flowed freely as sadness and grief enveloped the town of Uwala Abaka, Ukehe, the ancestral home of John Odonwodo, popularly known as junior Pope, in Igboetiti local government area of Enugu State, as the remains of the famous actor was laid to rest yesterday.
Junior Pope, who tragically passed away at the age of 43, died alongside four others on April 10 , when their boat capsized on the Anam River in Anambra State. The group was returning from a movie location when the accident occurred.
Though questions have been raised as to why some of the A-list actors and actresses, particularly the leadership of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) were visibly missing at the burial ceremony, the atmosphere at the burial ceremony was somber as colleagues and fans who honoured the late actor with their presence paid him their final respects.
The burial rites commenced at 10 am with a commendation mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Parish, Ukehe, and lying-in-state at his father’s compound, where family members, sympathisers , colleagues and friends, had the final glimpse of the late actor before the body was moved to a private venue for internment at about 1.30 pm.
The late actor’s wife, who was dressed in black, Jennifer Awele, couldn’t hold back her tears as she wept profusely at the commencement of the final funeral procession. Hearts were further broken when his young sons who attempted to console their mother, wiping tears from her face, equally broke down in tears.
Nollywood industry, saw an outpouring of grief and tributes. The late Junior Pope was celebrated not only for his contributions to the film industry but also for his vibrant personality and dedication to his craft.
A few of his colleagues who manage to speak described him as a beacon of light in Nollywood, an asset who brought energy and passion to every role he played, For them, “His untimely death is a significant loss to us all.”
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