CARNIVAL CALABAR: PASSION 4 REPEATS FEAT, GETS N10 MILLION

          Passion Four Band has won the Best Overall band competition for 2011 Carnival Calabar which was highly vied for among the five competing bands and carted home a cash prize of N10 million thereby repeating the feat which it shared with Seagull Band last year.

          Seagull Band came second and got N5 million while Masta Blasta Band came third and was given N3 million.

          Passion Four Band won the Best Band on the Move and Best Band Float and was given N2 million respectively while the Best  Carnival King and Best Carnival Queen in the Senior band category was won by Seagull Band and it received N2 million respectively.

          In the Children Carnival category which was held on Boxing Day, December 26, Masta Blasta Band was first, Seagull Band second and Bayside Band third and won cash prizes of N3 million , N2 million and N1 million respectively while Seagull Band carted both Junior King and Junior Queen  titles and went home with  N200,000 respectively.

          The 2011 Carnival Calabar was flagged off by Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State at noon and was assisted by his wife Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke, Deputy Governor Mr. Efiok Cobham and wife, Glory, immediate past Governor Donald Duke and wife, Onari, Senate Leader Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Orientation Chief Edem Duke and Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Mallam Sanusi Lamldo Sanusi and actors Ini Edo and Jim Iyk of the Nollywood.

          Imoke referred to the Carnival as the “Biggest Street Party in Africa which has become one of the greatest events in the tourism  across the world which has grown from strength to strength and from height to height.”

          He said, “Let the show begin!” and the Carnival ballons were released for the 112 kilometre Carnival parade to commence and the bands had to perform at five adjudication points for the judges to scores which started from the Millennium Park through Calabar Road, Marian Road into Ndidem Using-Iso to Efiia Ette junction – MCC to Murtala Mohammed  Highway terminating at the UJ Esuene Stadium.

          They were judged on their abilities to translate the Theme of the Carnival which was” Endless Possibilities” into costumes,, dance,  Carnival float, king and queen and carnival move to emerge winners.

          Seagull Band (Red) led by Senator Florence Ita Giwa accompanied by ace Nigerian actor, Nkem Owoh (Ukwa) and others personalities, Masta Blasta Band (Orange) led by Chief Geshom Bassey, had Mrs Obioma Liyel Imoke, Chief Edem Duke, Mrs. Ekama Awara Commissioner for Women Affairs, Bayside band (Blue) had Mr. John Odey immediate past Minister of Environment as its leader other members included Mr. Donald Duke and wife Onari, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba,        State Deputy Chairman of PDP Mr. Peter Ojie and Commissioner for Education, Prof Offiong E. Offiong, Freedom Band (Yellow) was led by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham and  was supported by chairman Calabar South Local Government Council Hon Ekeng Ansa Henshaw.

          The many times winner of Carnival Calabar, Passion Four (Green) was led by Mr. Chris Agibe., a one time Commissioner for Finance.

          The non competition bands that added colour to the Carnival included the First Bank (one of the sponsors) Drum Line Band, State Fire Service  Band, Nigeria Immigration Service Band Nigerian Prisons Band, Nigeria  Police Band and 13 Brigade Nigerian Army Band.

          The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, who was accompanied by his wife, Helen, in an interview, said he was happy to participate in the carnival, adding that, “it is growing bigger and getting better organized and has received greater publicity which will make Africa and the whole world now know Carnival Calabar as truly Africa’s Biggest Street Party”.