By Victor Akande
IT was a strategic business idea for
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State and his team, who have set the ball
rolling for the 2016 edition of Calabar Carnival and Festival, barely a day
after this year’s edition came to a close.
Film Critic, Victor Akande reports that at a sponsors dinner held on Wednesday
at the popular Transcorp Hotel, Calabar, Ayade unveiled the theme of the 12th
edition of the carnival taking place this year, as ‘Climate Change’; the same
theme for the 2015 show.
The Governor said it was necessary to
explore the subject further, as more and more countries in the world continue
to show concern for the environment, recalling that the World Bank had set
aside $100 billion to support Africa’s afforestation and climate change drive,
while United Nations (UN) had also set aside $100 billion annually to support
climate change in Third World countries.
He urged the sponsors to broaden
their capacity to give. “As you all know, it is not just Calabar carnival, it
is Calabar international carnival.
This year, the December show, touted
as Africa’s biggest street party, increased its scope with the inclusion of
some countries who participated in the international competition which took
place at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar. The maiden edition had Flamingo of
Spain, Italian Flag Twirlers, Drumming Wonders of Burundi, Urukereza of
Rwanda, Ghana cultural troupe, Masai dancers from Kenya, Vai Vai Samba of
Brazil and Nigeria, represented by Passion-4, this year’s winner of the
Carnival Calabar competition.
Earlier on
Tuesday, Ayade led his cabinet, the locals and revelers in a five million
tree-planting campaign which was also in tune with the theme of the 2015 event.
The governor maintained that his administration will plant five million trees
to support afforestation and climate change.
He said:
“Calabar is going green, introducing urban afforestation, which is a classical
departure from what we know. That is why we have the first green police in
Africa.”
The session
had former Rivers State governor and Minister for Transportation, Mr. Rotimi
Amaechi, wife of Cross River State Governor Mrs. Linda Ayade, Deputy Governor
Ivara Esu, House of Assembly Speaker John Lebo, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa,
members of the National and state assemblies, Nollywood actors, John Okafor,
aka Mr. Ibu and Okon.
It was
fanfare all the way at the last Calabar Carnival. For over a week, the event
swelled yuletide activities in Calabar, and last Monday, it went a
notch higher when the governor flagged off the commencement of the street
parade, a local competitive arm of the festival, parading the
traditional five bands; Freedom Band, Bayside Band, Passion4 Band, Seagul
Band and Master Blasta Band.
As richly
costumed girls led each group, accompanied by music blasting trucks and acrobatic
dancers, revelers lined the Carnival routes, cheering up the participants.
Masquerades,
celebrities, notable disc jockeys and exquisite floats offered side
attractions.
Interestingly,
all the floats were crafted of various designs depicting the ‘Climate Change’
theme.
Last
Sunday, the festival played host to over 1000 power bikers drawn from
Nigeria, China, Canada, Australia Germany, the US, Philippines, Togo, Ghana and
Benin Republic, in the maiden edition of Calabar Bikers’ Parade.
According to
the Governor, the power bike idea has no doubt increased commercial activities
in the city.
He said: “We
need to encourage tourists that have the capacity to spend. So the bikers’
parade creates a platform for those who have the wealth to buy expensive
classic bikes like the ones on parade today.”
In a 12
kilometre ride, the bikers, led by the State Governor, performed different
types of
stunts
to the admiration of ecstatic crowd that lined up along the carnival route to
catch a glimpse of the extreme riders.
According to
the State helmsman, the initiative was also to create a delicate and complex
balance between the enthusiasm of youth and the wisdom of a 60 year old.
On the choice
of his bikes, the red and the blue, Ayadesaid: “They were specifically chosen
to reflect the glamour, elegance, royalty, while green was chosen to reflect
the theme of the festival which is Climate
Change.”
The festival
which was flagged off by Ayade at the Millennium Park, also witnessed both male
and female stunt performers with the deputy governor, Prof. Ivara Esu, Speaker
of the Cross River State House of Assembly, John Gaul Lebo, former governor of
the state, Mr. Donald Duke, among others in attendance.
The immediate
past Commissioner for Information, Chief Akin Ricketts, a biker himself,
described the new offering as the brainchild of Ayade geared towards
creating
value for the festival.
Ricketts
said,” This is a new offering that has put a verve on Calabar Festival. Bikers
are drawn from all over the world.” He said it would have a long lasting
impression
on the
people.
One of
Nigeria’s ace movie actors and a biker, Mr Sam Dede, described the event as a
convergence of happy people in unity and that in future it will be more popular
than Carnival Calabar.
An Abuja-based
biker, Gentle Giant, who said he has been preparing for the event since
January, noted: “This is a new development which people have been longing for.
It happens in Miami in USA,” adding that being in Calabar was a dream come
true. Highlight of the event was the presentation of souvenir to Ayade by
Tinapa Bikers.
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