by By Itam Ofor
The Cross State House of Assembly has adopted a resolution calling on the State Government and it’s agencies to suspend the 2020 Calabar Christmas Carnival and other related activities.
The Assembly wants the annual Christmas Carnival suspended due to the destruction and looting of infrastructure following the #ENDSARS protest as well as the COVID 19 pandemic currently ravaging the world adding that Government should rather address pressing issues like the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure and Security in the state.
The House adopted the resolution following a motion moved by the House Leader, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey (Ogoja) who decried the wanton destruction of infrastructure across the State during the recent #EndSars protest where most of the Carnival events are normally held.
He said, though the carnival Calabar is an international event attracting people from all over the world with economic benefits, the possibility of hosting it this year is not realistic as the venue for some of the activities like the Calabar international conference center (CICC), Tinapa have been looted and vandalized.
Odey also observed that the COVID 19 pandemic is not totally over hence holding the carnival which normally attracts large crowds may have devastating health effects on the State.
Supporting the motion, the Deputy Speaker Rt Hon Joseph Bassey reiterated that the COVID 19 pandemic the world over has recorded very high death rates adding that currently, some Countries are observing a second lockdown hence organizing the usual carnival will be unwise.
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Other Members unanimously supported the motion citing the current bad security situation in the State, the COVID 19 pandemic and the vandalism of infrastructure as reasons to suspend the event for this year.
In his ruling, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams observed that all over the world, many international events were suspended because of the COVID 19 pandemic, adding that the safety of citizens is Paramount. He called on all Cross Riverians to join forces with the Government to bring the State back to its feet.
