Prof. Ben Ayade, the Cross River State Governor has expressed disappointment over the number of young men and women leaving Africa blessed with rich human and natural resources for foreign countries in search of greener pastures.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 2018 Calabar Cultural Carnival which began on Wednesday in Calabar, Cross River capital, Ayade said the 2018 carnival, with the theme: “Africanism”, would be used to tell the African story.
Ayade said that the problem of Africa was not poverty, but inability of Africans to tell their stories, adding that the “organisers, in conjunction with writers like Wole Soyinka and Ngugi Wa-Thiongo must tell the African story from our own perspective.”
“Why should Africa wait for the Western world to tell its story and show its own heritage? “When I see Africans cross the Mediterranean and deserts, I wonder why people would want to leave this continent that is so blessed with human and natural resources.
“Cross River wants to tell all young men and women that, the best place to be is Africa where there is rich human and natural resources,” he said.
The governor thanked God for giving the state government the grace to sustain the carnival.
Similarly, Mr Gab Unah, the Chairman, Cross River Carnival Commission, said the event was significant because it brought the African culture to the front burner, especially the concept of hospitality which Africans were best known for.
According to Unah, the ‘African man empathises with everything, both birth, death and other celebration that is how we share love.’
He said that he was extremely happy with the attendance, adding that 25 states out of the 29 accredited for the event were in attendance.
Some leaders of troupes from different states also commended the state government for sustaining the carnival but urged improved accommodation for the visiting states to make next year edition better.
At least, 25 states of the federation including Anambra, Imo, Kogi, Plateau, Osun and Ekiti states, among others graced the event. (NAN).
