By Onwa Ekor
The Cross River government has officially introduced a new annual event into its tourism calendar.
The event, titled “Carnival Parade of Thanksgiving and Festival of Praise,” also tagged, “Jesus Carnival” will be held every Easter season.
The maiden edition took place on Easter Monday in Calabar, the state capital and was flagged off by the Governor, Prince Bassey Otu alongside his wife, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu.
The colorful and spiritually charged event, marked by splendor and cultural flair, is a spiritual offshoot of the globally celebrated Carnival Calabar, traditionally held every December.
Organizers explained that the Jesus Carnival is designed as a moment of collective gratitude to God for the success of Carnival Calabar and the continued progress of the state.
It blends faith, culture, and thanksgiving into a unique Christian celebration during the Easter season.
Speaking at the event, Otu said: “Jesus Christ has taken Cross River to unimaginable heights within two years of this administration.
“From inception, I declared this a Godly state, and Jesus the true Governor.
“Easter Monday has now been set aside to celebrate Jesus and to say, Father, thank You for how far You have brought us.
“The story of Cross River is changing for the better. I am grateful to all the men and women of God who have continually kept the state in their prayers,” the governor explained.
He called on more Christians to join the effort to pray for Cross River, emphasizing that “no investment in the things of God is ever wasted.”
He also thanked the large contingent of clergy who led their congregations in participating in the event.
The parade route covered several strategic locations across Calabar Municipality and Calabar South, including Millennium Park, Watt Market, Nelson Mandela Street, Target Street, and the Mary Slessor Roundabout, before returning to the main carnival corridor.
Prayers were offered at various roundabouts along the way, adding a spiritual dimension to the march.
During the event, Otu and his wife danced and sang alongside thousands of Christian faithful, with gospel music echoing through the streets in a jubilant expression of faith.
The governor’s wife who spoke before the flag-off, said the vision for the Easter event was inspired by a desire to dedicate a significant part of the tourism calendar to Jesus Christ.
“While Carnival Calabar is a secular celebration, this is a spiritual festival, one created to honor Christ for His sacrifice and celebrate our faith as a people,” she remarked.
Special Adviser to the governor on Event Management, Mr. Effiong Ekpenyong, described the Jesus Carnival as the brainchild of the First Lady, crediting her prayerful support for much of the administration’s success.
Ekpenyong coordinated the parade’s logistics and highlighted its significance as a new attraction in the state’s growing tourism offerings.
“With this spiritually uplifting addition to its tourism calendar, Cross River has reaffirmed its identity as a place where culture and faith intersect, making Easter not just a religious observance, but a state-wide celebration of divine gratitude and praise,” he maintained.
Prayers were led by prominent religious leaders, including the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Takis Caiafas; Bishops Josef Bassey, Emma Isong, Bassey Edem and Apostle Frank Umoh, among others.
