Remembering Jnr Pope, tragically cut in his prime

On 10 April 2024, the leisure business was plunged into mourning following the dying of actor John ‘Jnr Pope’ Odonwodo.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the actor misplaced his life together with 4 colleagues when their boat capsized within the Anam River whereas filming ‘Different Facet of Life’, produced by Adanma Luke.

Jnr Pope, 43, was laid to relaxation in Uwala Abaka, Ukehe, inside the Nsukka area of Igbo-Etiti Native Authorities Space, Enugu State, amidst an outpouring of grief.

His funeral drew many celebrities, together with Future Etiko, Rita Edochie, E-Cash, Chinwe Owoh, Benson Okonkwo, singer Kcee, and Zubby Michael, amongst others—a lot of whom couldn’t maintain again their tears.

The mourners shared heartfelt tributes, private encounters, and fond reminiscences, celebrating Jnr Pope’s outstanding contributions to the movie business.

One yr later, followers, colleagues, and family members continued to honour the reminiscence of the gifted actor whose life was tragically minimize brief in his prime.

Adama Luke

Ms Luke, the producer of the ill-fated movie, skilled a sequence of life-altering occasions because the tragic incident. Earlier than the incident, she was recognized for movies resembling Iga (Love in Chains) (2020), Slender Affection (2023), and College Bother (2014).

Nevertheless, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) subsequently suspended her. The AGN said that her suspension was as a consequence of a breach of security protocols. The police additionally launched an investigation into the matter.

After the suspension and investigation, a number of filmmakers and actors started to boycott her productions.

In August 2024, 4 months after the tragedy, she spoke out, revealing that she was struggling along with her psychological well being and pleaded for forgiveness from Nigerians.

Throughout an Instagram stay, the filmmaker admitted she may now not preserve a courageous entrance for these nonetheless grieving and appealed to Nigerians to contemplate her perspective and present compassion.

Expressing deep remorse, the mom of 1 famous that the filming location had been often used with none earlier incidents.

She additionally denied claims that she went on vacation following the tragedy.

Nevertheless, a month later, a video emerged on-line exhibiting the Anambra-born actress showing to take pleasure in a trip.

The footage, which featured her alongside fellow actresses Future Etiko and Uju Okoli, stirred blended reactions on social media.

Within the video she posted, the trio is seen having fun with time collectively, suggesting that Ms Luke has moved on from the incident.

Nonetheless, Ms Luke continued to mourn Jnr Pope and others who misplaced their lives throughout the filming of her film.

In a publish on her Instagram web page on Thursday, she confessed that dropping Jnr Pope and the others had left her with a persistent headache “nobody can treatment except God intervenes.”

AGN

Following the unlucky incident, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) banned movie productions involving riverine areas and boat rides.

This was along with Ms Luke’s suspension. AGN President Emeka Rollas mentioned these measures had been taken to safeguard the lives of actors and crew members and to stop a recurrence of such tragic occasions.

In August, the AGN lifted the ban on Ms Luke and defined why the guild couldn’t pursue authorized motion towards her concerning the dying of Junior Pope.

Throughout an interview on Come up TV, Rollas revealed their limitations, stating, “Replace on Junior Pope, you understand I used to be right here, and I mentioned we’re about to sue. Whereas interacting with our authorized adviser, he mentioned that the AGN didn’t have the locus to sue from the contract Junior Pope signed with the producer. He mentioned both the direct household or the spouse ought to sue the producer.

“From the construction we’re creating, tapping from the follow, we are going to start licensing actors as a result of we additionally found that even the Junior Pope, as of his dying, was not a due-paying guild member. He was a giant actor who had not paid dues within the final yr earlier than his dying.”

Nevertheless, the guild launched new bylaws for the movie business, emphasising the significance of adhering to them.

Promise

To look after the actor’s youngsters, singer Kcee pledged that he and his brother, Emeka ‘E-Cash’ Okonkwo, would tackle their duty till they had been sufficiently old to look after themselves.

Kcee described Jnr Pope as a blessing, including that he won’t ever be forgotten.

“However we will’t do this with out the assist of the household. So we’re saying it overtly to the household: We’re able to deal with the three youngsters to any degree they need till they’re grown and capable of look after themselves.

“We are going to care for his or her training, feeding, clothes, and holidays. We aren’t doing it to point out off however to honour our good friend’s dying want for a greater life for his youngsters. And we took it upon ourselves that we’re going to assist this household to coach these youngsters,” the singer added.

Weeks after the promise was made, a video emerged on-line exhibiting the joyous moments of the late actor’s youngsters relishing a lavish vacation at E-Cash’s home.

The video captured the heartwarming second the kids arrived on the E-Cash’s residence, the place he welcomed them with open arms.

Within the clip, Jnr Pope’s youngsters be part of E-Cash’s youngsters for a pleasant kickabout and revel in swimming within the crystal-clear pool.

As of the press time, no additional particulars concerning the promise have been confirmed, as no info is offered on-line.

Tributes

In the meantime, to mark the primary anniversary of the actor’s passing, his widow, Jennifer Awele, mirrored on the profound loss and the enduring affect on their household via a publish on her Instagram web page.

She shared a tribute accompanied by a heartfelt message alongside a household {photograph} that includes her and their three sons, Jason, Jaden, and Jamon, standing beside a big portrait of Jrn Pope.

In her message, she acknowledged the problem of staying sturdy with out him.

Ms Awele wrote: “It’s been one yr of standing within the face of our unimaginable loss, and never a day has passed by and not using a considered you. Your love nonetheless surrounds us, your laughter echoes in our hearts, and your presence is felt within the quiet moments once we miss you most.

“You haven’t any thought how robust it’s been making an attempt to remain sturdy for one another even because the world appears to be falling aside. The grief stays heavy; the absence left a void that phrases can by no means fill, however via all of it, we glance up for energy from heaven as a guiding gentle.

“I nonetheless don’t have the fitting phrases to reply to Jason and Jaden desirous to know if Daddy will fulfil his promise of taking them to a correct soccer academy and be current at their first official match. They mentioned, ‘Daddy informed them he wouldn’t miss it for something on the earth.’ Then, Jamon, the littlest one (J papa, fondly referred to as by Daddy), retains asking when Daddy is bringing the large toy automobile he promised him.

“We admire everybody who sympathised with us and stood and nonetheless stood by us via our grief. Phrases can not categorical our gratitude in your love and assist in the direction of us.

“To our beloved, you didn’t solely go away us, your loved ones however so many who beloved you and beloved your works. It’s so troublesome and unbelievable to say these phrases, however nonetheless, proceed to relaxation within the bosom of the Almighty. You’ll all the time be in our hearts and ideas, and your reminiscences and legacy will stay perpetually.”

Along with the late actor’s widow, the movie business organised a memorial service on April 10 for Jnr Pope and others who handed away.

Filmmaker Stanley Ontop introduced this on his Instagram web page.

He shared images of himself and different mourners gathered at St. Johnbosco Catholic Church in Asaba, Delta State, the place a mass was held for Jnr Pope and the opposite deceased.

READ ALSO: Jnr Pope: ‘Forgive me, Im dropping my sanity’- Adanma Luke begs Nigerians

All these in attendance wore black apparel to indicate their mourning, and a video captured them providing prayers contained in the church.

Along with the memorial service, Stanley Ontop, Future Etiko, and others honoured Jnr Pope on their social media pages.