29th December, 2014
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The hope of fun lovers and tourists who planned to enjoy the annual Buguma beach carnival in Asari-Toru local Government area of Rivers state have been irretrievably dashed as the organizers announced the cancellation of this year’s event due to security concerns.
The coordinator and chief organizer Tony Anko Amachree who announced the cancellation explained that it was due to the charged political atmosphere in the state.
According to Amachree “Due to the build up to the general elections there are already security reports that the Buguma beach carnival this year may not be completely safe. We don’t want politicians to play politics with the carnival”.
Buguma is the ancestral headquarters of the Kalabari (Ijaw) ethnic nationality and the inhabitants are mainly riverine where the majority of the 16 governorship aspirants under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who have been having a running battle with the leadership of the party in state hails from.
Significant to note is that with restoration of peace in the state since 2007 and granting of amnesty to ex-militants bulk of who were from the riverine area of the state, Buguma Beach carnival has been an annual event that created a lot of fun for fun seekers and both local and foreigners because of the rich culture and tourists’ delight because of the boat regatta.