Although the CARNIRIV, Port Harcourt Festival may have come and gone. but the memories and joyful moments left behind by this great event in the city of Port Harcourt, Rivers State; will remain indelible in the lives of indigenes and non-indigenes resident in the state, particularly those that were following the trend, while the event lasted.
The story of the rebranded Port Harcourt Carnival by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi; since the inception of his administration as the Governor of Rivers State, will not be complete this year, without kudos to the business activities that took place at the discount market and roads that leads to the stadium. The innovative minds of the Chinese were also felt at the CARNIRIV, through the bombardment of the entire venue with their lightening and other products, having tested the Port Harcourt Market, during the last 17th National Sports Festival that was hosted and won by Rivers State.
Little wonder, the commissioner for Culture & Tourism, Dr. Nabbs Imegwu in his opening speech at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, described CARNIRIV- the Port Harcourt Carnival as “a top line composite culture and entertainment festival that connects with the public through a variety of Culture and freestyle components”.
Dr. Nabbs reiterated that beyond showcasing their dynamic and rich cultural heritage that they are working tirelessly in tandem with past achievements to ensure that CARNIRIV-the Port Harcourt Carnival assumes its pride of place as a global cultural and tourism brand.
In brief, the Deputy Governor of the state, Engr. Tele Ikuru, who represented the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi at the opening ceremony; recalled some security challenges that were faced by their administration in the past. He urged the people of Port Harcourt to go all out and enjoy themselves, with promise that the issue of power outages in the state will be a thing of the past, come ending of February, 2012. Some of the activities that made the year’s CARNIRIV- the Port Harcourt Carnival thick include: the Boat Regatta which took place at the Tourist Beach; where Hon. Maclean Uranta, the Executive Chairman of Opobo-Nkoro LGA, told journalists that the decoration of their Boat never depict war, but to showcase the revering culture of his people. He commended Governor Amaechi on his vision of the CARNIRIV and believed that his LGA will carry the
day at the end of the event, having performed optimally at the Boat Regatta. In the same vein, Hon. John Nnamdi Anuch, the Executive Chairman of Omuma LGA, used the occasion of the LGAs performances at the Carnival Village to thank God Almighty for the peace that has returned in Omuma. Hon. Anucha said he has empowered over 60 youths on different skill acquisition programs as a means of curbing youth restiveness in his LGA. Hon. Anucha promise to do more in line with the Governor Amaechi’s zeal to bring the people of the state together, to ensure that Omuma people will have dividends of democracy under his administration with the little allocation that comes to the council. Other activities includes: the Praise Fest/Ladies Nite; the Reggea/Old School/ Talent Nite, the LGA Heritage Float, Old PH. Town Groove with various cultural displays of all participants at the GRA junction, Port Harcourt which featured Governor Amaechi and his wife, Dame Judith, Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru and his wife, Hon. Commissioner for Culture & Tourism, Dr. Nabbs Imegwu and Hon. Magnus Abbey amongst others.
Cheques were issued to best performed LG chairmen on their different performances including FUSION Band, winner of the Best Freestyle Bands Parade Groups. The cheque ranged from (N2m) (N5m). Earlier on, the 2nd Runner-up of ECOWAS Peace Pageant, Miss Laifa Kariga of Nigeria and ECOWAS Peace Ambassador, Miss Sophia Dialo of Senegal, commended Governor Amaechi on the ECOWAS Peace Pageant and the PortHarcourt Carnival that took place in state. Conclusively, Governor Amaechi thanked every one that made the festival a success, particularly the Artists and Comedians who trilled the people of Port Harcourt with wonderful moments, while the event lasted.
By Blaise Elumezie
