CALABAR – Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River inaugurated the Carnival Calabar 2014 on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the carnival features cultural parade and dances by troupes from the 18 local government areas of the state and invited states.
The states included Nassarawa, Benue, Imo, Anambra, Osun, Delta, Kastina, Rivers and others.
Imoke said that the cultural parade was an opportunity for the people of the state to celebrate their culture and heritage.
“You can see the number of verities and their display; this is to tell the world that we appreciate our culture and heritage.
“We have the 18 local government areas of the state and other states represented here today; we are celebrating our unity and indeed our culture.
“The cultural display is very exciting, we are celebrating one another, appreciating one another and displaying our cultural varieties’’, he said.
Mr Gabriel Onah, Chairman of Carnival Calabar Commission, said there were yearly innovations to make the carnival unique and colourful.
Onah said the state was giving culture its full support, adding that the 18 local government areas of the state and 21 states were invited for the event.
“We are giving the cultural parade a six kilometer walk, culture has united us and we are proud of that unity.
“We are using this festival as a means to bring people together, the entire country is represented here today and we are very happy to host them’’, he said.
Ms Bumi Salihu, Leader of the Osun State Dance Troupes, described the carnival as a unique display of talent, culture and heritage.
Salihu, who described their dance as `juju, said they were happy to be invited for the carnival.
Mr Bassey Asuquo, who led the Akampka Local Government Area Dance group, expressed happiness for participating in the cultural display.
Other dancers who spoke to NAN also lauded the Cross River Government for sustaining the carnival. (NAN)
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