The Enugu government says it is working with the families of the late Nollywood actors John Okafor, aka Mr Ibu, and Obumneme Odonwodo, aka Junior Pope, to give them a befitting burial.

The commissioner for information and communication, Aka Eze Aka, disclosed this in an interview on Friday in Enugu.

Mr Aka, who said the death of the duo were a terrible blow to the government of Enugu State and Nigeria, said the state government was interested in giving them a befitting burial.

On Junior Pope, the commissioner, who said that no date had been fixed for the burial, stressed that the government was in contact with the family and was working together to determine how they wanted their son buried.

“As an individual member of his burial committee, I will relate to the government what the family wants,” Mr Aka said. He added that the state government would be represented during Mr Ibu’s burial, scheduled for June 28.

Mr Aka also explained that the state government did not respond on time when the news about Jnr Pope’s death broke out due to some circumstances surrounding his death, adding that many people did not know that he came from Enugu.

He further explained that after that, the government began to engage the family in discussion, adding that “for now, the Enugu government is interested in giving him a befitting burial.”

The commissioner said the government opened a state register “because his death was a national calamity and a tragic event that shocked the whole nation.”

Mr Aka said, “We felt that there are so many fans who would like to express themselves by saying one or two things about him, and we opened a condolence register to allow them to do that. The government does not celebrate death, but when it happens, we do the needful.”

He also reiterated Governor Peter Mbah’s commitment to building up the entertainment industry in the state, especially as most talents were moving out of the state by building an entertainment village.

Junior Pope, who hailed from Ukehe in Igbo-Etiti LGA, alongside three of his colleagues, lost their lives in the tragic boat accident on River Niger while returning from a movie location on April 10.

Mr Ibu, who hailed from Amuri in Nkanu West LGA, died on March 2 after battling stroke, diabetes and kidney failure. 

(NAN)