The Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, has commiserated with the households of actor, Pope Odonwodo, Junior Pope, and 4 others, who misplaced their lives when their boat capisized on River Niger through the week whereas coming back from the set of a film titled, The Different Facet of Life, produced by actress and producer, Adanma Luke.
Soludo additionally condoled with the Actors Guild of Nigeria, and all the movie trade over the tragic accident.
In an announcement signed by his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, the governor lamenting the unlucky circumstances that led to the dying of ‘the gifted, promising, younger Nigerians’ in pursuit of their profession desires.
Soludo mentioned, “The tragic accident brings to the fore once more the significance of partaking fundamental security measures in water transportation in Nigeria, most particularly the procurement of life jackets, hiring of lifeguards, and administration of first assist like CPR on victims.”
He additionally urged Nollywood practitioners to at all times adjust to needed security precautions to save lots of lives on riverside engagements, whereas pledging his help for the event of the inventive leisure trade.
He added, “The leisure sector is complementary to well-rounded growth in society, and that’s the reason the Anambra State Authorities is constructing the ‘Answer Enjoyable Metropolis’ in Awka, remodelling the Agulu Lake as a vacationer delight, and modernising the water transportation system within the state to spice up tourism and financial actions.
“We pray that the souls of the boat tragedy victims relaxation in peace, whereas their households, associates and trade colleagues discover solace of their cherished recollections.”
In the meantime, Adanma Luke, the producer of the ill-fated film, who had hitherto been silent because the day of the accident, in a collection of movies on her Instagram web page narrated her facet of the story, claiming that the late Pope was provided a life jacket, however he rejected it as a result of it was soiled.
She additionally revealed that she was imagined to be on the boat that capsized.
Luke additional revealed that she couldn’t converse as a result of she felt it was all a dream and hoping to be woke up from it. She added that she had been making efforts to get better the opposite our bodies from the river and transporting them to their households to be laid to relaxation.
She mentioned, “So, on that day, whereas I used to be on the point of go drop the reminiscence card with the crew on set, I used to be accompanied by my brother’s youngsters. We have been all imagined to be on that boat collectively. I used to be imagined to be on that boat.
“My manufacturing supervisor was calling me to deliver the reminiscence card, so they may begin filming, and I informed him to return and acquire it. However, he insisted that I ought to deliver it to them.
“Once I bought there and I noticed Emeka, my DOP, sitting quietly with individuals surrounding him, I began shouting, ‘What is going on? Any individual discuss to me’. Emeka then mentioned, ‘JP, Abigail, Friday, and Treasured are gone. I didn’t perceive.
“My director was saying that he didn’t know what occurred. He and the DOP wore life jackets. There was nonetheless one life jacket obtainable; I don’t know who had it.
“However, my PM mentioned that day, they noticed life jackets there and took them. He even informed the late Friday to ship one to Junior Pope, however Junior Pope mentioned it was soiled, so, he didn’t take it.
“The individuals who wore life jackets survived. In addition they informed me that once they have been within the water attempting to outlive, Junior Pope was additionally there, asking if all people was okay. They even threw a gallon to him to carry onto, which he did. However, abruptly, they didn’t see him once more.”
Breaking into tears, Luke added that she thought of the individuals who misplaced their lives within the unlucky boat mishap to be her household, and so they often got here all the way in which to Lagos to shoot together with her.
She mentioned, “This was my first time of working with JP. He and his spouse are my associates. I talked to the spouse someday, and that was when she mentioned, ‘Why aren’t you giving my husband work’? JP additionally mentioned, ‘Ada, you might be my pal, why don’t you name me for jobs’?
“I informed JP he primarily acts motion movies, and I hardly produce that. He then mentioned he additionally acts in love movies too.”
Luke added that she was traumatised that the accident occurred on the journey from her set.
“I’ve been so traumatised. I’ve been so chilly. This entire factor nonetheless looks like a dream to me. It’s so unhappy that this occurred on my set. I blame myself; that I might have been in Lagos doing my factor. I blame myself for coming right down to Asaba.
“I nonetheless can’t imagine this. These crew members have been my household. They’ve been working with me. If I’m working in Lagos, they might come from Asaba to affix me.”
In the meantime, the Anambra Police Command introduced that that they had arrested the 2 operators aboard the ill-fated boat.
The state police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this to one among our correspondents on Saturday.
He said that the boat operators have been in police custody, including that the producer of the film, Adanma Luke, had voluntarily made herself obtainable to the police.
He additional revealed that different members of the solid and crew of the film can be invited for questioning.
Ikenga mentioned, “Sure, the boat operators have been arrested. Even the producer of the film, Adanma Luke’s assertion was taken and interrogation is ongoing.
“Different members of the solid and crew of the film can be invited for questioning.”
He added that nothing can be swept underneath the carpet as regards the investigation of the accident.
