Rita Edochie’s Heartbreak: Actress Remembers Junior Pope on His First Posthumous Birthday

Nollywood actress Rita Edochie is grappling with profound grief as she commemorates the first posthumous birthday of her late colleague, John Paul Obumneme Odonwodo, fondly known as Junior Pope.

Junior Pope tragically lost his life last month in a devastating accident, along with four other crew members, while filming Adanma Luke’s movie ‘The Other Side of Life’ in Anam River, Anambra state.

As May 7 marks Pope’s birthday, Rita Edochie took to Instagram to express her sorrow at the absence of her dear friend, lamenting that she can no longer celebrate his special day in his presence.

In a heartfelt message, Rita conveyed the anguish of her broken heart, struggling to accept Pope’s departure and questioning the comfort he might find in an unfamiliar world, isolated from his family, friends, and loved ones for over a month.

“How comfortable do you feel spending over a month in a land you have never been before all alone without your wife, children, friends, loved ones, and well-wishers? Ohhh death where is thy sting?” she wrote.

Despite her profound sorrow, Rita finds solace in the belief that Pope watches over her and others he held dear from above, wishing for his eternal light to shine brightly.

Reactions poured in from netizens, reflecting on the pain of loss and expressing prayers and condolences for Junior Pope’s family:

• “How is JP wife doing ooooo? If I’m this hurt, how will the wife feel? God biko come and hold her… it is well. Keep resting in God’s hands. Amen. Hmmmm!!” – @mrs_oec
• “Never give anyone the opportunity to betray you. It’s better to apologize after surviving than to die trusting the wrong people. Happy posthumous birthday SWAG NATION, your indelible mark will last forever.” – @beautifulrose1897
• “Yoooh, I’m so heartbroken. This beautiful soul has touched so many people around the world ❤️ I’m from South Africa. May God comfort Qutejay and sons AKA the J’s.” – @tpmzolo.tp
• “By God’s grace it will.. Aliiiliiiiiiii egbumammm.. Mtchewwwwww.” – @official_kitchenking

The tragic loss of Junior Pope continues to reverberate in the hearts of many, with his mother expressing suspicions about the circumstances surrounding his untimely demise, as revealed by Emeka Rollas, president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).