Fun seekers this Yuletide, will not be heading to the famous Calabar Carnival. This is because, the Cross River State governor, Sir Ben Ayade, has suspended the 2021 event citing the new deadly Covid-19 variant, Omicron.
Gov. Ayade announced the suspension on Monday, at a stakeholders meeting held at the State Executive Council Chamber.
Present at the event were the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Eteng Jones Williams, members of the state Executive Council, local government chairman from the 18 Council areas of the state and carnival band leaders.
Governor Ayade said health concerns arising from the outbreak of the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron as well as prevailing security situation in the country, were major reasons for the suspension.
The Governor said he would not as a leader, compromise the lives and safety of the citizens for the “fleeting excitement of the carnival”.
Thebladengr.com gathered that before announcing the suspension, Ayade had subjected the decision to popular votes, following which majority of the stakeholders voted for the suspension of the carnival.
