Gov Otu justifies theme of Carnival Calabar 2023
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Cross River State governor Senator Bassey Otu says the theme of this year’s carnival captures almost all the other themes of the celebration from inception.
The governor disclosed this at the Millennium Park in Calabar while flagging off this year’s third dry run ahead of the carnival.
This year’s Carnival Calabar has as theme – Season of Sweetness.
The governor said the theme is also apt because after a tough season a season will definitely come where people will smile and this represents that season.
“This particular theme came as a result of almost all the other themes which captures the carnival from inception.
“After COVID-19, there was a total breakdown and people were so disillusioned.
“After that, the Carnival has been trying to pick up and never really picked up.
“Whether people like it not, after a season of very tough situation, hunger and other things there will actually come a season where people are going to smile and fortunately this is that season and people are going to smile”, the governor said.
The governor added that preparations for this edition of the Carnival as can be seen from the dry runs is massive.
He said all hotels are out and the world is going to see Cross River State.
He welcomed tourists and visitors across the world to the 2023 carnival saying they will enjoy the hospitality of Calabar and see the real destination of tourism as far as Nigeria is concerned.
The third dry run marks the end of preparations for the carnival celebration and was graced by a former federal minister of culture and tourism High Chief Edem Duke as well as the state commissioner for tourism Abubakar Ewa.
