Many landlords in Calabar, especially those whose houses and shops are located on the carnival routes, are angry with the state governor, Prince Bassey Otu over the directive to beautify their homes for the carnival.
In a statement signed on behalf of the governor by his Chief Press Secretary, Emman Ogbeche, he called on residents of the state, especially those in the Calabar Metropolis, to embark on the beautification of their homes and premises to give the state capital, Calabar, a facelift for the 32-day Calabar Carnival and other activities during the Yuletide.
All residential houses and businesses within the Calabar metropolis, especially those along the carnival routes, were urged to repaint them to give the state capital a fresh look.
But the landlords have stated that they lacked the resources to immediately renovate their properties.
One of the landlords on Marian Road, who expressed unhappiness over the directive, Chief Wilson Etete said, “If they want such a directive to be effective, they ought to advance us even half of the cost of the renovation.
“We are not happy that the governor preferred to give a grant of Ten Million Naira to ten hotel and business owners who already have enough to renovate their properties conveniently but was rather giving us orders without any financial support.”
In the last two weeks, there has been sanitation, decoration, beautification and installation of lightings and plantings in the city as they prepare for the commencement of this year’s carnival Calabar.
Calabar Carnival: Landlords protest Gov Otu’s renovation directive
