On Saturday, Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, visited the family of the late Nollywood actor Junior Pope to offer his condolences.
In a heartfelt gesture, Peter Obi showed his support to the bereaved family during this difficult time. The actor, whose real name was JohnPaul Odonwodo, was laid to rest on Friday in his hometown of Ikpogwu Ukehe, Nsukka, Enugu State.
The burial ceremony was a solemn occasion, attended by family, friends, and fans who gathered to pay their final respects. Mr. Obi consoled Junior Pope’s children and their mother, posed for photographs, and signed the condolence register.
Peter Obi was accompanied by actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo. The body of 43-year-old Junior Pope arrived in his village early Friday, followed by a funeral service at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, Ukehe. The officiating priest prayed for the family, reminding them that “the Lord gives and the Lord taketh.”
Family, friends, and colleagues were visibly emotional as Junior Pope’s body, in a white casket, was lowered into the ground in his compound after the church service. Security operatives, including police and local vigilante groups, ensured that unauthorized persons did not take pictures or make video recordings.
Celebrities such as Zubby Michael, Ruby Ojiakor, Linc Edochie, Queen Wokoma, Chinwe Owoh, and Rita Edochie attended the funeral. Junior Pope, who married Jennifer Awele in November 2014, had three children. He tragically drowned alongside four others on April 10.
