Nollywood actress, Rita Edochie is dedicating her birthday to her late junior colleague, Junior Pope.
Taking to her Instagram page, the sister-in-law of Pete Edochie, stated that she wouldn’t be celebrating her birthday today, April 16, and has chosen to rather dedicate it to Junior Pope.
The thespian noted how the late actor never missed her birthdays and would always call her, send her messages, post her pictures online, and more. Rita stated that she refuses to believe he is dead unless the day ends and she doesn’t receive a reaction from him.
Rita Edochie who is also Yul Edochie’s aunty added that no one’s death in Nollywood has made her this hurt, lamenting how Junior Pope is too young to die.
Making a promise to him, she stated that the memories they shared would remain evergreen in her heart.
“WITH A HEART FULL OF GRIEF AND HEAVINESS, I DEDICATE THIS BIRTHDAY OF MINE TO YOU JUNIOR POPE MY GREAT SON, MY CHAMP. I PRAY AND HOPE THAT GOD USES THIS GOLDEN DAY OF MINE WHICH I HAVE DEDICATED IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES, TO FIX ANYTHING THAT MAY GO WRONG DUE TO YOUR ABSENCE.
“AS FOR YOUR LOVELY WIFE, QUTEJAY THE ENVY OF ALL WOMEN, MAY GOD USE THIS DEDICATED DAY OF MINE TO GRANT HER FORTITUDE AND STRENGTH ENSURING THAT SHE RAISES YOUR WONDERFUL BOYS RIGHTLY AND COMFORTABLY. MAY THE HARD LIFE THAT HITS YOUNG WOMEN WHO LOSE THEIR HUSBANDS AT VERY DISPLEASING TIMES NEVER HIT HER AT ALL. I HOPE SHE HEALS FROM THIS WOUND SOON ENOUGH AND MAY AFFLICTION NOT COME HER WAY THE SECOND TIME.”
Rita Edochie
The actress expressed her love to the late Junior Pope and thanked God for another year of the gift of life.
“I LOVE YOU SO MUCH JOHN PAUL OBUMNEME ODONWODO A.K.A JUNIOR POPE. YOUR MEMORIES WILL REMAIN. EVERGREEN IN MY HEART AMEN. IT IS WELL WITH YOUR ACTIVE SOUL NWAM. I STILL CAN NOT SAY REST IN PEACE BECAUSE E STILL NEVER CLEAR ME. YA DI BA. THANK YOU JESUS FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND GIFT OF LIFE, YOU KNOW THE BEST. I CANNOT QUESTION YOU.”
Rita Edochie
Police Debunks Claims Of Netizens
The Anambra State Police Command categorically stated that the mortal remains of Nollywood luminary, John Paul Odonwodo, fondly known as Junior Pope, were not among those laid to rest by the bank of the Anam River.
Setting the record straight, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, reiterated in a recent statement, that only three families of the deceased consented to the burial of their loved ones by the riverside.
He pointed out that after the funeral of the three victims, one grieving family returned to the site to retrieve the remains of their daughter. They sought to honor her memory with a more fitting farewell, opting for a burial in her ancestral homeland.
“The Command, on an inquiry about the unconfirmed information that the recovered bodies including Junior Pope were buried by the Riverside where the boat accident happened, discovered that three of the deceased families accepted the victims should be buried beside the river.
“But later, the family of one of the victims decided to exhume the body to be given a proper burial in her state while the other two were still buried there. Also, Junior Pope and one other are still in the morgue and await the deceased families’ funeral arrangements.”
SP Ikenga Tochukwu
The police spokesman also stated that the command was still investigating the unfortunate incident.
“The producer of the movie and the two boat drivers’ statements have been obtained, and other necessary actions/moves already emplaced by the operatives as directed by the Commissioner of Police to determine the criminal liability of any person, if any, in the mishap.”
SP Ikenga Tochukwu
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