One personality that has always thrilled me in the local print media industry is Paddy Obinna, I fondly called Ndaa Paddy. I have only maintained a distant relationship with this elder and colleague in the pen pushing job in the past until we found ourselves together as members of the Independent Newspapers Publishers Association, INPA in Owerri, the Imo State Capital. While I represent the interest of my medium, the Trumpeta, Ndaa Paddy was for his Strides newspaper before his departure. Apart from tapping from his wise counsel when knotty issues faced the home based publishers’ body, Ndaa Paddy’s witty sayings and humorous approach during INPA meetings appeared more like a comic relief when tensed moment arose. For that, Ndaa Paddy became my bosom pal. And I enjoyed his companionship during publishers’ gathering until he left us to serve Rescue Mission government.
I was one of those who were elated when Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha picked Ndaa Paddy as one of his advisers to be in charge of culture. I disagreed with many who felt that Ndaa Paddy’s appointment was traceable to his filial relationship with the maverick cleric and Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Archbishop Anthony Obinna who happens to be his younger brother.
Having known and associated with the multi-talented prolific writer and creative artist, I felt Ndaa Paddy was a round peg in a round hole for the culture aide job. Therefore, I was one of the few media chiefs who thronged his “Within Bar” spot at his Emekuku country home to savour the appointment and subsequent reception event after inauguration and oath of office in Government House, Owerri.
The few moments I have had chance of having an inter face with my revered colleague who left us at the publishers’ level to serve government by resting his Stride tabloid, what pre-occupied his mind was the proposed Imo carnival which has come and gone. In the last phone chat we had, he informed me that he was on the way to one of the South- South States as part of the carnival preparations. When I learnt that Imo State version of a state carnival is under way and piloted by Ndaa Paddy, I had the inkling that great tidings are about to visit Imo. As one with bias for the entertainment and hospitality sector, I began to conjure in my mind what would be of Imo before, during and immediately after the carnival razzmatazz.
Irrespective of different interpretations trailing the event that is a creative and artistic expression, carnival around the world convey the image of fanfare, exotically costumed fun seekers and all measures of excitement embodied in street, party, and colourful merriment. Its origin has become a subject of controversy as it has multiple histories. To show its relationship to catholic religion, the word carnival is made up of tow Latin words Carne meaning flesh and Vale meaning farewell. In the Catholic Calendar, Carnevale means “farewell to flesh”, which was a feast celebrated on Sunday before Lent. Another account indicates that carnival originated as a pagan festival in ancient Egypt and subsequently celebrated by the Greeks and the Romans. Records further have it that in ancient times, carnival was the same tradition with a feast in honour of Bachus, the Roman god of wine and Saturnalia. It was also said that the Roman Catholic later modified the feast of Saturnalia into a festival preceding the beginning of lent in what today has evolved as mass celebration of indulgence in music, dance, food and drink; something which the church did not have in mind.
Despite being associated with different historical tales, carnival has an Afro centric angle whereby African slaves taking to the Carribeans and West Indies by slave dealers to work in the plantations carried their rich culture which garnished the celebration of carnival. Carnival became a turning point in the life of African slaves. From Brazil to the Notting Hill Carnival in London, the concept keeps changing with modernization.
The carnival bug however caught up with Nigerians when returnee slaves from the West Indies and World War participants landed Lagos at the abolition of slave trade and end of the first global fight. That interface with the locals gave rise to the legendary Fanti carnival of Isale Eko people of Lagos. With time, it spread and became a common exercise on streets of Lagos during festive periods like Christmas and Easter. Successive administrations in Lagos redefined the celebrations of carnivals by giving it a facelift as a state event.
Other states like Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Abuja followed suit. But it was Cross River that gave carnival in Nigeria an international status with its famous Calabar carnival which debuted since 2004.
To queue into the league of carnival compliant states in Nigeria, the Okorocha regime came up with the idea of giving the state its brand of carnival. I am yet to be acquainted with reasons for the exercise, according to Buchi George who seems to be the consultant that packaged the event.
I must commend the foresight of governor Okorocha in considering the Imo version of a Carnival. Considering the rich tourist potentials the state parades and in view of the multiplier effects accruable from such event, it is worthy to note that the economy of the state would experience another level from the Imo no doubt is the doyen of entertainment and heartbeat of the hospitality industry in the South East with sizeable number of recreational outfits located in all parts of Owerri. It is often said that the highest industry in the state is presence of hotels followed by numerous outdoor relaxation spots offering wide range of variety shows.
Besides, the state capital witnesses influx of frolickers especially during the weekend to feel the distinctive sensation of the bountiful recreational facilities. Therefore the coming of a carnival will not only complement the tourism potential of the state but also properly embellish the popular notion that Owerri is an Ngwori land (enjoyment place) for Arabanko crooners.
Though, both the state government and organizers may be forgiven for noticeable flaws and deliberate inactions that make the show a crappy outing and bollocksing act.
Since it can be mistaken to be a test run exercise, suffice it to note that Ndaa Paddy and his pay masters may have been guilty of the verbal expressions of his younger brother and Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Church, AJV Obinna, who once publicly accused the Rescue Mission government of Okorocha his brother is serving of running “Impressionist” government. I may not share similar views with the revered cleric but as a keen observer of developments in the state, the carnival is not far from the “showman type” of governance being witnessed in the state.
From all indications, it was obvious that the state government was not ready for the carnival even as it was been reported that about N1.2b was released to make the event a success. My claims stem from the fact that the Imo carnival did not get the desired effects it was supposed to have achieved.
After suffering initial postponement few months ago which the state government blamed on the sympathy for Chibok, the event earlier scheduled from May 6-13 2014 finally took place early this week. Aside from insignificant side attractions, the event can be said to be a political carnival of the ruling party in the state since the winner is a politician and office holder.
To suggest that the carnival was hurriedly packaged for political gains than the desired effects that would have been beneficial to Imo populace and state economy, Ndaa Paddy and his co-organizer, actress Nkeiru Sylvanus was not really in the carnival mood if their apron that is different from the flamboyant costumes worn by most participants is considered.
Ordinarily, carnivals are not just mere celebrations fixed on any day of the week or month of the year. World over, carnivals are remarkable events marked on special days for specific purposes for the celebrants. Famous carnivals including that of Lagos, Calabar, Rivers and Abuja carnivals have specific days for celebration which are sacrosanct.
The October 6 and 7 dates for the Imo Carnival are not significant and cannot be said to be a memorable day in Imo to put residents in frenzy mood for an organized jamboree like carnival. The grand finale of the Calabar carnival holds every Dec 27, which are periods of holidays for those observing Christmas and New Year celebration since Cross River is a Christian State. More so, it has become a traditional holiday date for all in the state to close shops, markets, and offices for participation.
. In Lagos, apart from the Fanti carnival which comes up on Christmas and Boxing Day of 25 and 26 Day of Dec respectively, the Lagos State government celebrates the state carnival mostly a day after Easter which is entirely period of national break. Same applies to that of Abuja and Port Harcourt. But that of Imo came at odd period during a Moslem festival. Imo is a predominantly Christian state and fixing celebrations of such magnitude during Moslem breaks raises serious concern that may not be tolerated in several quarters in Imo society. The timing can be said to be incorrect even as it was marked during rainy season that is unfavourable for street parade and outdoor gatherings because of inclement weather. This aspect manifested on Monday after the Sunday opening day when the carnival suffered serious set back as a result of heavy down pour during the day. The menacing rainfall greatly sabotaged the affair thereby making the second day a mere formality for the exercise. As I have no intention to sound like I religious bigot, suffice it to note that such Sallah periods offers Moslems in the Northern part of Nigeria to engage on Sallah Durbar shows, and not for a Christian state to undertake a carnival.
The politicization of the exercise also removed the shine off the novel idea as it became more of a parade by leading figures of the ruling party in the state.
States in Nigeria and all over the world where such exercise has been held, politics is divorced from the eclectic admixture of music, song, dances and street displays that is the hallmark of the carnival. The idea of having floats for elected and political office holders like the Deputy Governor, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Commissioners, House of Assembly members who are party members of a particular party, further diminishes the importance of the carnival to the generality of the people in the state.
Since political differences cannot be divorced in the society, involving partisan proclivity in every aspect of public functions further makes a mockery of agenda-setting policies like Imo carnival. It could have been better be christened APC carnival since the event was more of hero-worshipping for APC government officials who had floats and pockets of APC flag-carrying dancers attached in their groups. I had expected Ndaa Paddy who I am aware visited the Calabar to understudy their carnival to reveal if Gov Liyel Imoke allocated floated to his Deputy, aides and the state legislature? What Calabar carnival has are various interesting exhibiting floats devoid of political inclination.
Those of Rivers, Lagos and Abuja are not also different. There was no special float for party chieftains, or office holders. It has always been a public show that cuts across political camps or lining. The incessant conversion of any public event like burials, weddings and birthdays to political rallies and campaigns which is eating deep into the fabric of key players in the state political hemisphere appears to be working against social integration in Imo society.
The essences of holding carnivals are dependent on certain factors. Unlike some folks wallowing in skewed imagination that those at the helm of affairs in the state have scored cheap political points by instituting the event which is the first in the annals of history of the state, by exhibiting paucity of knowledge in developmental indices, the benefit of such venture can only be ascertained if other sectors in the tourism and commerce industry gain from such periodic shows.
Before now, I don’t think that any tourist site in the state is operating at optional level to benefit from the event. The world class Oguta Lake and Motel is in comatose despite the fact that huge sum of money running into billions of naira was obtained through bond and kept by the former governor for the purposes of developing the tourist site to a wonder land. Other areas like the Abadaba Lake at Ihitte/Uboma, Mbari centres in Ikenegbu and even the Zoo in Nekede are witnessing epileptic conditions to benefit from the carnival. Tourists can only enter to view the carnival without further activities in the state. Had it been the said N1.2bn pumped in to organize the carnival was injected into these needy tourist areas, there would have been meaningful successes in the tourism sectors of the state.
While I commend the governor for the splendid idea, it is worthy to reflect and review the maiden edition with a view to engaging in rediscovery of the cultural potentials of the state for better outing in the years ahead. Meanwhile, irrespective of the hiccups witnessed Ndaa Paddy and my dear governor deserve a put on the back for ensuring that their dreams of having an Imo carnival have become a reality.
