Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has described man’s inhumanity to man as the cause of instability around the world.
The governor said this while unveiling this year’s Carnival Calabar theme, “Humanity”.
He called for a return to God and conscience which according to him are key to humanity.
Ayade took band leaders of the carnival through a power point video presentation on the ills and woes brought upon man by man.
Ayade argued the fact that man has lost his conscience and now given to deviant behaviours.
“Imagine the dept of animalism and how much man has travelled away from his conscience, ” he lamented.
The governor urged band leaders to go beyond the pleasure of the annual tourism fiesta to communicate the message, through their band and music, that it was time to return to “our conscience that made us humans.
“The carnival is not just about dance and procession, it is about telling a story using dance intended to educate and alter the social orientation of the people.
“The celestial part to the heavenly king comes with the internal police man, the conscience that asks a question, is it fair or right?.
As band leaders, tell the story with drums and gesticulations. The story must be stronger than the pulse of the carnival.
“The carnival is only a platform to tell that story that will create the reawakening of the African conscience which has it nexus plexus to Africanism “, Governor Ayade stressed.
He maintained that the theme of the carnival also seeks to speak truth to power to the effect that all the artificial barriers created by colour, economic and geographical differences can be broken by the power of humanity.”
The chairman of band leaders association and former First Lady of the state, Mrs Onari Duke, in her remarks on behalf of other band leaders commended Governor Ayade’s theme choice for the 2019 carnival Calabar, describing it as thought provoking.
“Let me commend Your Excellency for the huge social impact your administration has continued to make in all ramifications, especially in the Carnival which you have raised beyond the imagination of all and now the Cross River brand has become the beckon for Nigeria”, She said.