Junior Pope: Enugu Governor Commiserates With Late Actor's Family, Promises Befitting Burial

ENUGU State Governor Peter Mbah laments the passing of Nollywood actor John Paul Odonwodo, also known as Junior Pope, and notes that the state has lost one of its gifted sons.

According to the governor, Junior Pope passed away at a time when Enugu State was making great efforts to foster the creative potential of its young people for independence.

Wednesday's sad boat disaster on the River Niger claimed the lives of Junior Pope and four of his colleagues while they were returning from a movie location. Junior Pope was from Ukehe in the Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State.

That sad event occurred while the five crew members were on their way back from a film set.

The governor expressed his condolences at learning of Junior Pope's passing, calling it a heartbreaking and unfortunate event.

“Indeed, the death of Junior Pope came at a time Enugu State was working so hard to develop the creative potential of its youths for self reliance, job creation and export of their talents outside the shores of Nigeria,” the governor said.

Mbah conveyed his sincere sorrow that two gifted young Nigerians could die under such terrible circumstances.

The Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, the bereaved families, and the whole Nollywood industry expressed their condolences to the bereaved families for the death of their members in an unfortunate boat accident.

He pledged that the state will cooperate with the family to make sure the late movie icon received a respectable funeral.

The governor emphasized that Nigerians could pay their respects to the deceased Nollywood star by registering on the Enugu State Government's condolence registry.

Mbah clarified that on April 15, the Ministry of Information and Communication, State Secretariat, Enugu, Conference Hall would host the opening of the condolence register.

“Those who may not get to the office of the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communication, may use the following email address condolencejuniorpope@gmail.com to register their condolences,” he said.