The Deputy Governor, Rt Hon. Peter Odey (4th from right), Wife of former Cross River Governor, Mrs Onari Duke (2right), Speaker Cross River House of Assembly, Hon Elvert Ayambem (3rd right), Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Ironbark (6th right) and others during the Carnival Calabar dry run Flagg off on Sunday.
The Carnival Calabar 2023 first dry run has been flagged off in Calabar, Cross River state with an assurance of maximum safety for revellers.
Flagging off the dry run at the millennium park in Calabar on Sunday amid pomp and pageantry, the State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, said the state security architecture is intact, hence ready to host the world during the 32-days event.
The governor who was represented by his deputy, Rt Hon Peter Odey, remarked that the 2023 Carnival Calabar will be better than every other Carnival that have been seen in the history of Nigeria.
He said, “we are going to have the best Carnival that this country has ever seen this year. We are ready and all the service commanders are here and what that means is that we are ready.
“So, we are sending message to our friends out there in America, London, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago that their security is safe in Cross River, we are ready , very ready to host you, ready to welcome you because this year’s Carnival will be the best in the world”.
Earlier, Chairman of the state Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah, informed that the cultural milieu that has turned around Cross River in the turn of the millennium, changing the landscape of Nigeria is back.
Towards this end, Onah said the city lights of Calabar are coming right back even as the streets were becoming cleaner.
On his part, the Special Adviser Events Management, Mr. Effiong Ekpenyong, disclosed that the Calabar Carnival has also introduced raffle draw and the winner will cart home a brand new car.
Among the participating bands who walked through the 12 kilometre Carnival routes were, Masta Blasta, Seagulls, Bayside, Calas Vegas, Passion 4 and Diamond.
