Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu has mourned Nollywood actor, Obumneme Odonwodo, a.k.a Jnr. Pope, saying the state has lost one of its talented sons.
The governor said Jnr. Pope’s death came at a time when Enugu State was working hard to develop the creative potential of its youths for self-reliance.
Mbah said this in a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Aka Eze Aka, on Saturday night in Enugu.
Pope, who hailed from Ukehe in Igbo-Etiti Council Area of the State, alongside three of his colleagues, lost their lives in the tragic boat accident on River Niger while returning from a movie location on Wednesday.
The governor described Jnr. Pope’s death as ‘heart-wrenching and unfortunate’, saying he received the news with sadness.
He said, “Indeed, the death of Jnr. 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”.
Mbah expressed deep regret that such talented, young Nigerians could lose their lives in such unfortunate circumstances.
The governor commiserated with the bereaved families, Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN and the entire Nollywood industry on the loss of their members in an ill-fated boat accident.
He promised that the state would work in concert with the family to ensure a befitting burial for the late movie icon.
The governor stressed that the Enugu State Government had opened a condolence register for Nigerians to pay their tributes to the fallen Nollywood Star.
