BY UKET OKA, Calabar
Nigeria Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa as well as the Chief of Defence intelligence, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye and six Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs) were among the many dignitaries at the flag off of the 2023 biggest street party in Africa, Carnival Calabar.
Also at the event were the Ministers of Sports and Humanitarian Affairs, Senator John Owan-Enoh and Dr. Betta Edu, respectively.
Flagging off the event at the Millennium Park park, Calabar, the Cross River capital, the governor, Prince Bassey Otu accompanied by his wife, Rev. Eyoanwan, commended the sponsors for their resolve to help the state move the Carnival to the next level.
“Sponsors, we are going to work together earlier than we started this year to make sure that it is a good one,” the governor said.
Otu maintained that Carnival Calabar remains the biggest street party in the world in spite of some breaks in the past, stressing that, “now we have reconnected back fully and it will continue to be bigger and better even as we move it to the next level in line with our campaign promises.”
Touched by the bubbling as well as the costumes of the revellers, the governor remarked, “if you look at the energy around this time and if you look at the electricity, you know that everybody is ready to vibrate, it is going to be a whole day, whole night event.”
To the organizers, the elated governor applauded them for their time and efforts in ensuring that the event comes out better.
“You have done so well, I want to thank you so much. For this particular show, I want to believe that it is going to be another feather added to your cap as I believe also that Cross River is the destination.”
The Carnival train will move round the 12 km route through Mary Slessor Avenue, Marian Road, MCC Road to Murtala Muhammed Highway while stopping for display at the designated adjudication points and terminating at the U. J. Esuene Stadium.