CARNIRIV 2012 Ends Amid Colours, Celebration

SILVERBIRD Complex at the Choba axis of Port Harcourt was the gathering point for all contending and participating bands at CARNIRIV 2012.

As early as dawn, on Saturday, activities had started to gain momentum with various actors and actresses gearing up for the show.

When at noon, the first band stirred, people, who had long waited for the drums to sound, poured into the street in hundreds. What a befitting end to the week-long carnival of celebration and cultural feast on the streets of Port Harcourt, stretching from Ikwere to Aba/Port Harcourt Express and Liberation Stadium.

There was pomp and pageantry as bands attired in all manners of costumes, entertained ecstatic crowds of people with electrifying, energetic and choreographed dance steps.

The street party took an exiting turn when at the intersection of Ikwere Road and Olu Obasanjo Road, Governor Rotimi Amaechi (President of Treasured Base Band), accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru; former Miss World, Agbani Darego; Sam Dede, and a host of government functionaries and other high profile personalities, joined in what the governor described as ‘dance of our people.’

It was an enthralling moment for all who had turned out in large numbers to watch the train make its way through the streets.

The event climaxed at Liberation Stadium late in the evening where the atmosphere at the arena and adjoining carnival village was one of partying and feasting.

The day’s celebration was concluded with a peace musical concert, which featured a number of Nigerian artistes.

Addressing participants, Governor Amaechi said the carnival has again brought out the best in the people and afforded them rare opportunity to celebrate their uniqueness and cultural heritage.

While thanking them for embracing the carnival and coming out in their numbers to witness the various events, Amaechi pledged the commitment of the state to continued hosting and funding for festivities, which he said is devoted to developing the people, celebrating them and boosting the state’s economy with emphasis on tourism.

On his past, the Director General of the Rivers State Development Agency for Tourism and Team Captain of the carnival, Dr. Sam Dede, expressed delight over people’s acceptance of the carnival.

He noted that overall participation surpassed the expectation of the agency. He also recounted gains of the carnival, revealing that more visitors were recorded this year than at previous years, and that the economy of the state also received a boost, as many of the business and commercial outfits in the city were kept busy.

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