Rita Edochie, a veteran Nollywood actress, has mourned the death of actor, John Okafor aka Mr Ibu.
The sister-in-law of Pete Edochie wrote a lengthy statement on her Instagram page, expressing that she was more touched by his suffering and his agonizing groaning when he was pallid.
She disclosed that she had last seen the deceased veteran at Evercare Hospital in Lagos, where they had conversed briefly and she was happy to hear that he was making a good recovery.
Rita Edochie stated that she believed her time with him represented heaven’s desire to receive his soul and release him from all burdens and tension.
She prayed for his family and offered a prayer for his departed brother, friend, and coworker, and she prayed for his soul to rest in peace.
She wrote:
“WHAT HURTS ME MOST IS NOT EVEN YOUR DEMISE, IT’S KNOWING THE FACT THAT YOU SUFFERED SO MUCH AND GROANED PAINFULLY IN THE GRIPS OF PALENESS.
THE LAST TIME I WENT TO SEE YOU AT EVERCARE HOSPITAL IN LAGOS, WE DISCUSSED TO A CERTAIN EXTENT AND I WAS VERY EXCITED THAT FULL RECUPERATION WAS TAKING PLACE.
I THINK THIS IS THE TIME THE HEAVENS WANT TO WELCOME YOUR SOUL AND RELIEVE YOU OF ALL THE STRESS AND BURDEN SICKNESS IMPOSED ON YOU AT LEAST NOW YOU CAN REST AND THE ILLNESS TOO CAN REST.
IN AS MUCH AS I KNOW THAT THIS RIGHT HERE IS VERY EXCRUCIATING, WE STILL DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO QUESTION THE GIVER OF LIFE.
DEATH IS REALLY INEVITABLE, IT’S A CALL EVERYONE WOULD ANSWER EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS TRANSIENT.MAY YOUR PEACEFUL AND EVER-LIVELY SOUL REST IN POWER MY GREAT FRIEND, BROTHER, AND COLLEAGUE
NOLLYWOOD WILL MISS YOU DEARLY.
ALL I BEG GOD FOR, IS THAT HE GIVES THE FAMILY YOU LEFT BEHIND FORTITUDE TO BEAR THIS LOSS. AMEN”.
In other news, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has stated that despite the country’s suffering, the Southeastern region would not protest against the Tinubu-led administration since he has handled the region’s ongoing farmer/herder disputes.
He made the statement while speaking to reporters in his hometown of Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area in Ebonyi State.
According to him, the clashes exacerbated instability in the area and hampered food production, resulting in famine on the land.
The Minister maintained that the high cost of living was a result of previous administrations’ actions and inaction.
He did, however, emphasize that the president had begun to resolve the matter.
The Minister stated that Tinubu’s government has greatly helped the Southeast with crucial appointments, including himself, the region’s first Minister of Works.
He stated that the administration has undertaken several initiatives in the region and that, with all of this, the Southeast has no moral basis to join those demonstrating against the President over the high cost of living in the country.
Umahi encouraged the people of the region not to be enticed by any organization or other region to join any demonstration against the president.
According to him,
“The present hunger that everybody is talking about didn’t start today. It’s a built-up to a number of factors. Before the past administration and present administration, we had been having a build-up of insecurity. We had farmers/herders clashes over a number of years.
“At a time, I was the Chairman of NEC committee on resolving farmers/herders clashes. So, I went through a number of states, especially the northern states, settling the farmers/herders clashes, and it yielded a number of fruits.
“That problem dealt a huge blow to food production. The issue of kidnapping and the issue of insecurity prevented farmers from going to their farms because here we are talking about hunger.
“And so, you expect the administration of President Tinubu to fix all those things within nine months? It’s not possible. It’s a cumulative effect of the past, like I have mentioned. We should be asking ourselves: how do we solve these problems? That’s what the President has started doing. When something has got to the climax, you don’t expect to resolve it overnight.
“If you check very well, especially in the Southeast, you will know that we no longer have incessant farmers/herders clashes. So, why should we join the protest when the President has solved our major problem? The problem we now have in the Southeast is self-inflicted. That is the issue of unknown but known gunmen.
“So, if we are protesting, who are we protesting against? We are protesting against a President that has solved herders/farmers clashes. If you remove the issue of unknown gunmen, the Southeast will be completely safe and farmers can work. So, we can’t go and join anybody to protest.”
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