Sen. Bassey Otu, the Governor of Cross River State has said that making Carnival Calabar International Festival bigger remains one of his top priorities.
A statement by Emmanuel Ogbeche, Chief Press Secretary to Otu, said that the governor pledged to enhance the acceptance of the carnival during one of his campaigns and would ensure it comes to fruition.
The statement hinted that Otu gave the assurance yesterday, while flagging-off the main event of the 2023 Carnival Calabar International Festival, where seven competing bands gave scintillating performances in competition for prizes.
He said: “This is one of our campaign promises that we are definitely going to bring carnival back and on a bigger platform. What you have seen is the tip of the iceberg because we are going to move it to the next level.”
Commending sponsors for their immense support, the governor lauded tourists, visitors, and other fun seekers for gracing Calabar with their presence and savouring the spectacle.
Meanwhile, Calas Vegas Band, which is under the tutelage of former Minister of Culture and Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke, at the end of the show at the main bowl of the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, clinched the coveted top position of N10 million of the N55 million on offer.
Passion 4, the festival’s most successful band, came second, while Seagull Band settled for the third position.
The Carnival Calabar was a display of innovation, theatre, ingenuity, culture, exhibition and interpretation of societal issues, as well as proffering of solutions, the statement said.
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