And the Pope Died…
It started like a rumour on Wednesday, then it was denied. But in the early hours of Thursday, it was confirmed to be shockingly true. By this time we got more clarity on this sad occurrence. Mr. Junior Pope is or was a very influential member of the Nollywood crowd. He shot a video while on a rickety canoe to a supposed film shoot. In the video, the handsome man was crying out to the “captain” to “slow down this thing o,” that he had three sons and he must see them grow. As the canoe continued its journey into the darkness and with bumps from the waves, he shouted, “Abeg o, na only me dem born o-” alluding to his being an only child and then concluded with “You guys see the risk we take to entertain Nigerians.” This is the only fact that I am very sure of as I write. After that, it went balloo balloo – confusion, madness, illiteracy and all took over. Different stories, different clips, disparaging commentary, swearing, abuses, calls for arrests and all that have greeted this very sad and tragic story that one can only just sit still in anger and wonder – who do us like this?Ok, wait let me try and piece together what I have heard and read before I pass my commentary. The cast and crew were going for a film shoot and had to take a boat ride. They jumped on the boat without any clue as to the safety guidelines- no life jackets and even shooting a video on the risky ride. The boat capsized and they fell into the river. The bodies were retrieved and rushed straight to the morgue where they were rejected especially that of Pope who was said to still be alive and then three trips to three different hospitals with no oxygen as reported, and no attempt at CPR or anything of the sort, the body is rushed back to the riverfront for “rituals to bring am back” and from there you can imagine what would have happened. My people, the stupidity of it all is quite amazing. The wondrous buffoonery of all involved from the film producers to the cast who jumped on such a canoe, to the crowd that carried them on the worthless journey, and finally to the buffoons who rushed them in their car even while filming on the riverside, and finally the chief priest who tried to “bring him back to life.” God! What is this, please? What is all of this madness? This boy didn’t have to die. The madness of the people killed him. We are all quick to blame the government for our misfortunes but the government clearly had no role in this, rather the sheer savagery of the mob. Kai, this boy just died like that. Sad and very painful. Really, really sad. Kai.