Actress Rita Edochie has cancelled her birthday celebration to honour her colleague Junior Pope who died in a boat accident with four others.
Junior Pope was confirmed dead on the night of April 10 after several attempts to resuscitate him failed. The actor alongside make-up artist Abigail Frederick, and the production crew; Friday, Olanti and Precious drowned in Anam River on their way back from the set of Another Side of Life, a movie produced by Adanma Luke.
Rita who clocked 60 on Tuesday said she will not be celebrating her birthday, instead, she posted a video of Junior Pope on his family on her Instagram account to celebrate his legacy.
Rita recalled how the late actor never missed her birthday and would always call her, send her messages, post her pictures online to celebrate her.
She wrote: “I REFUSE TO CELEBRATE THIS DAY, I HEREBY DEDICATE IT TO MY GREAT SON JUNIOR POPE WHOSE DEATH INCIDENCE IS BELOW MY BELIEF.
“TODAY THE 16TH DAY OF APRIL 2024 IS MY BIRTHDAY BUT I CHOOSE NOT TO CELEBRATE IT THE WAY I HAD INTENDED. THIS SON OF MINE DOES NOT MISS MY BIRTHDAY EVERY YEAR, HE POSTS MY PICTURES, WRITES AND CALLS ME , I AM ACTUALLY
“EXPECTING A PHONE CALL OR A MESSAGE FROM HIM, OR A POST FROM HIS PAGE WITH MY PICTURES REGARDING MY BIRTHDAY TODAY THE 16TH APRIL, IF AT THE END OF TODAY I DO NOT GET ANY REACTION FROM HIM, THEN IT WILL DAWN ON ME THAT OBUMNEME NWAM IS NO LONGER HERE. NO DEATH IN NOLLYWOOD HAS MADE ME THIS CRAZY. OBUMNEME IS JUST TOO YOUNG FOR THIS .
“WITH A HEART FULL OF GRIEF AND HEAVINESS, I DEDICATE THIS BIRTHDAY OF MINE TO YOU JUNIOR POPE MY GREAT SON, MY CHAMP. I PRAY AND HOPE THAT GOD USES THIS GOLDEN DAY OF MINE WHICH I HAVE DEDICATED IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES, TO FIX ANYTHING THAT MAY GO WRONG DUE TO YOUR ABSENCE.
Praying for Junior Pope’s widow, the actress added: “AS FOR YOUR LOVELY WIFE, QUTEJAY THE ENVY OF ALL WOMEN, MAY GOD USE THIS DEDICATED DAY OF MINE TO GRANT HER FORTITUDE AND STRENGTH ENSURING THAT SHE RAISES YOUR WONDERFUL BOYS RIGHTLY AND COMFORTABLY.
“MAY THE HARD LIFE THAT HITS YOUNG WOMEN WHO LOSE THIER HUSBANDS AT VERY DISPLEASING TIMES NEVER HIT HER AT ALL. I HOPE SHE HEALS FROM THIS WOUND SOON ENOUGH AND MAY AFFLICTION NOT COME HER WAY THE SECOND TIME.
“I LOVE YOU SO MUCH JOHNPAUL OBUMNEME ODONWODO A.K.A JUNIOR POPE YOUR MEMORIES WILL REMAIN EVER GREEN IN MY HEART 
AMEN 
. IT IS WELL WITH YOUR ACTIVE SOUL NWAM. I STILL CANNOT SAY REST IN PEACE BECAUSE E STILL NEVER CLEAR ME 
YA DI BA.
“THANK YOU JESUS FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND GIFT OF LIFE, YOU KNOW THE BEST. I CANNOT QUESTION YOU.”
