….- Anambra Entertainment Commissioner
By Michael Nnebife
The Anambra State Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Comrade Don Onyeji, said the demise of the Nollywood actor, Obumneme Odonwodo, popularly called Junior Pope, and other actors and actresses is shocking and a great loss to the entertainment industry and the entire Nigerians.
The Commissioner stated this while speaking with Fides in his office at Jerome Udoji Secretariat Complex, Awka.
The Commissioner described Junior Pope as a model to many who were looking up to him for full kind of acting in style.
‘He was a very lively young man full of passion for his career and who had a great future to add to the film and entertainment industry in Nigeria.
‘He died in active service. Secondly, it’s unfortunate and sad he died the way he did. The loss is a shock to the Nollywood Industry and Nigerians. This is because we know who he was; and we related with him.
‘In fact, there’s an ongoing discussion about a production with him in Anambra State where we’re promoting Anawood.
‘So, it’s a great loss to the industry and generality of the public because by the time you finish a cast, you realize that you’re dealing with all kinds of people that are coming to the table with values,’ Commissioner Onyenji said.
He commiserated with the bereaved families and the entertainment industry in the country. Pointing out that many reasons had been given for the incident, the Commissioner advised that whoever ran waterways transportation, should have more than enough life jackets, adding that safety measures were things people should be very mindful of.
On the issue of burying the deceased in the riverbank, the Commissioner described it as a cultural and spiritual matter.
‘But we have to be very careful about this, because these days some people champion priesthood of deity for commercial purposes,’ he said.
Onyenji said that such a commercial venture should not be created around the unfortunate deaths of the celebrities.
The Culture Commissioner warned people to desist from such venture, noting that anybody misinterpreting what a deity was saying was also risking their life.
He stressed that the riverbank burial issue called for a lot of conversations and investigations as to the community involved and the authority behind the issue.
