Imo My Pride Carnival 2016: Issues and Facts

Rochas-Okorocha

As Christmas draws nearer with its attendant rush, Imo State just like every other state of the federation, will soon be agog with celebrations as comedians, dancers and all forms of entertainers will once again smile to the bank because it is their season. Hoteliers and event managers are not left out in the mouth-watering festive period.

Of paramount importance to Imo citizens, is the 2016 Carnival which has been tentatively fixed for 19th - 22nd December. It has been christened “Imo My Pride Carnival 2016”, with a matching theme “Ain’t seen nothing yet”. The event, is said to be packaged from the scratch by the office of the Special Adviser to Governor Okorocha on Arts and Culture, with Ndaa Paddy Obinna as the frontman.

For record purposes, Ndaa Paddy is an artist of repute who has been in the world of publicity and journalism. He has been an adjudicator at the Calabar and Abuja carnivals a couple of times. Ndaa Paddy has participated in carnivals in Europe and America and has also attended a course on carnival from a consultant in Brazil. Therefore, his appointment as the Special Adviser to the Governor of Imo State on Arts and Culture is no doubt, putting a round peg in a round hole. Imolites will eternally remain grateful to Governor Okorocha for this.

Last week, yours truly in company of a senior colleague in Imo State Government House, ICT Unit, had an opportunity to interact with Ndaa Paddy on the level of preparedness as the carnival date approaches. To Ndaa Paddy, carnival is a converge of people in a tourist and hospitable environment to enjoy the cuisine put in place and savour the music, dance and drama.

“Carnival entails exhibition of skills by young talents who will surely, thrill participants with their acrobatic dance and scintillating displays. It is all about the colour and crowd as it traverses round the people and with the number of people participating, there will be a lot to sell by the food vendors and drink sellers. There will be business for the costumiers, tailors, transporters and photographers. It is a boom time for hotels because tourists will come to stay and watch. Corporate enterprises such as banks, communication networks and others, are not left out, as most of them who want to have a reach with the people cannot afford to miss such opportunity to market their products.”

Ndaa Paddy concluded by informing his guests that arrangements have been concluded and plans are on top gear to ensure a bigger and better 2016 Imo carnival.

Unarguably, it goes without saying that the state government has done well in this area because joy will become the lot of many young entrepreneurs amidst the present economic crunch. Recall that before Rochas Okorocha came on board as the governor of the State, Imo has never witnessed or have a feel of what carnival is all about. A condition that places the state very far away from the national and international limelight. There has never been any form of entertainment that will bring people from neighbouring states to Imo, either because of fear of counting their losses after such event or lack of halls and centers befitting for it.

Without bias, today, the Imo International Convention Center, IICC, Owerri has hosted the high and mighty in the country, including top members of the opposition party. I recall vividly, the words of a PDP statesman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu during the Southeast-Southsouth Women August meeting, held at the center, courtesy of Her Excellency Ugonneoma Nkechi Okorocha. Chief Iwauanyanwu was quoted to have said that he never believed that Imo has a hall like this and congratulated Okorocha for doing a great job in the state so far.

O Yes, just like every other positive mind, I concur with the elder statesman because Owelle has done a great job so far and he deserves all our commendations.

As the festival gets stronger, bigger and better with every passing year, yours truly is urging every Imolite including our brothers in diaspora who may stumble on this article, to embrace and participate in the festival because it has come to stay while appealing for support to the visionary governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha whose plan to place Imo in the global map has already started yielding fruits.