Nollywood actress and producer, Adanma Luke, has appealed for forgiveness from Nigerians over the tragic boat accident that resulted in the deaths of actor John Odonwodo, aka Junior Pope, and four others.
In a video shared on her Instagram page on Monday, Luke, who was the producer of the movie titled “The Other Side of Life,” in which the crew were starring before their demise, stated that she has been depressed since the incident happened in April.
She added that she was gradually losing her life and was in need of prayers.
Acknowledging the criticism she has faced online since the incident, she said, “I’m just here to say that I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Nigerians. I’m sorry I took away your loved ones from-what people are saying.
“I’m very sad. Inasmuch as I try to be strong, I don’t see myself strong. I’m so sad that this had to happen on my set. I’m sad that they had to work for me at that particular time. I’m not God. It has been destined to happen, it is meant to happen, but why me?
“I never liked the internet drama, but this whole thing put me out there. A lot of people have been dragging me; some have been calling me, ‘Ada, don’t talk. Let this die; don’t talk’. But I go through a lot.”
Luke explained that she had been struggling with depression and has been unable to work or reach out to people for jobs since the incident.
She added, “I did not even know what depression was until this incident happened. I’m gradually losing my life. I’m regretting a lot of things. I don’t even know how to call people for jobs.
“People are even saying I went on vacation, I’m here for business. I’ve been indoors doing nothing and yet still catering to the families that lost their loved ones. Where do you people expect me to get all the money from? I need to work.
“I go through so much. I’m trying to heal, but it’s not coming back. We all loved JP, and we all loved the other people who also lost their lives, my crew members.
“My friends want me to get my sanity back, but I’m not seeing myself doing all that. I believe that if anything happens to me now, everybody will rest. I didn’t do it on purpose. God, why me? Please, Nigerians, I’m sorry. You don’t know what I’m going through.”
The actress also delved into the circumstances surrounding the boat accident, stating that she had requested a better location to shoot the movie and was assured by her team that the area was safe.
“I haven’t visited Asaba in the past two years until that incident. I asked for a better location to shoot that movie, and they took me there,” she said.
“The first time I went there before the main shooting, I asked why they weren’t providing life jackets. Then my PM told me that is how they do it there—that a lot of people have been crossing and nothing is happening. They’ve been shooting there; I wasn’t the first person to shoot a movie there; they shoot there all the time. I wasn’t even filming on the water; it was a means of transportation to the place,” she added.
Following the incident in April, the Actors Guild of Nigeria barred actors from participating in any film produced by Luke until further notice.
