By Ejikeme Omenazu - Lagos
As the weeklong Rivers Carnival (CARNIRIV) came to and end in grand style on Saturday December 21, the closing events were exciting and highly engaging. The state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, led scores of very important personalities and hundreds of participants in the glamorous Garden City Freestyle Parade.
Amaechi, who adorned very colourful costumes, was accompanied by other dignitaries, also in their exquisite carnival dresses.
They marched through major streets of Port Harcourt in long and colourful floats amidst drumming, dancing and cheers.
The governor, who doubles as the leader of the Treasure Base Band, had with him the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), George Feyii, the Face of CARNIRIV, Miss Ezim Odili, and Director General, Rivers State Tourism Development Agency (RSTDA), Dr. Sam Dede, among other dignitaries.
The parade, an artistic blend of contemporary modern cultural procession in which the governor was also the chief celebrant, took off from Abonema Wharf Road, through Ikwerre and Olu Obasanjo Roads.
The procession ended at Olu Obasanjo, where a panel of judges assessed the costumes, floats and performance of the 10 CARNIRIV bands.
Other floats that added glamour to the event were those of the Port Harcourt City Centenary, Rivers State House of Assembly and the troupe from Trinidad and Tobago.
Amaechi arrived for the procession at about 11.35am to the admiration of revellers and led the procession all through.
Excited residents and tourists, also in different kinds of colourful costumes, were in their best form, while other residents lined the streets to catch the fun and excitement.
Amaechi expressed joy and satisfaction with the large turnout of participants within and outside the state, who were part of this year’s carnival.
He said CARNIRIV has brought tremendous socio-economic benefits to the state, people and the nation at large through the promotion of small and medium enterprises as a result of the commercial activities associated with the carnival.
“No matter how busy one is, one should take time out for fun. It also gives one the opportunity to feel the pulse of the people and it is another way to promote healthy lifestyle,” he said.
The RSTDA boss, Dede, described the parade as “adding glamour and style to the exhilaration for which CARNIRIV is renowned as well as raise the stakes for carnivals globally.”
Later in the evening, the World Peace Concert, a rhythm-filled musical session accompanied by spectacular fireworks, brought the carnival to a grand close.
He said the concert was targetted at bringing the message of peace and hope to the entire world so that humanity and nature could continue to live together in harmony.
”What a better way to cap an entirely entertaining week than with a rhythm-filled message of peace?
“The World Peace Concert bears this message and delivers it via the vocal chords of some of the finest apostates of music worldwide amidst a rhapsody of spectacular fireworks,” he said.
Speaking about his assessment of this year’s edition of CARNIRIV, he expressed satisfaction with the organisation, attendance and active participation of the residents and other stakeholders at every aspect of the fiesta, while assuring them that subsequent editions would be better and bigger than what they have witnessed so far.
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