GOVERNOR Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, weekend, said that the state government was putting plans in motion to privatize the popular Carnival Calabar, describing the festival as a big boost to the economy of the state.Calabar Carnival’14:View amazing images of the biggest street party in Africahere.Imoke at the carnival, urged whoever would success him to ensure that the carnival was sustained in the years ahead.Speaking at the grand finale of the 10th year anniversary of Carnival Calabar, which was flagged off at the Millennium Park, the governor said that the carnival has grown in leaps and bounds, becoming the biggest street party in Africa.PARTICIPANT AT CARNIVAL CALABAR 2014 GRAND FINALE ON SATURDAY.According to him, for the first time in the history of thecarnival, the state government did not advertise the carnival, yet the crowd that thronged Calabar to witness it was unprecedented.He said, “This year’s carnival is my last carnival as the governor of this state. But I believe it will continue in the years ahead. It has truly become the ambassador event for Africa. We are planning to privatize it. There must be continuity in leadership which is very critical for us. Once we can do that, I believe we will continue to deliver great performances and improve on what we have already done over the years.”Imoke was accompanied to the Millennium Park, where he cut the tape to signal the commencement of thecarnival by his wife, the deputy governor and his wife, the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, the duo of Peter and Paul Okoye of P-Square fame, Senator Ben Ajade, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governorship candidate for 2015 election in the state. Also, present were Nollywood stars including Kate Henshaw, Jim Iyke and Angela Okoro among others.This year’s carnival attracted a huge number of tourists and local fun seekers from across the world. Prominent among them were the Israeli ambassador to Nigeria and the Rwandan Minister of Sport and Culture, Ambassador Joseph Habineza.As usual, the 12 kilometers carnival route was a bevy of activities as the five traditional bands dressed in different colourful attires entertained spectators while dancing and partying all the way.
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