THE SUCCESS STORY OF OGBADIBO CULTURAL CARNIVAL IN IDOMALAND OF BENUE STATE

BY SUNNY GREEN ITODO

Just like it is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with just a step, so is the story of OGBADIBO CULTURAL CARNIVAL. Sunny Green Itodo According to the P.A on Social media to the President/CEO of the organizer of the carnival, Sunny Green Itodo who stated this recently said the concept started as an idea of one man (Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson) who have become a household name not just only in Benue state-Nigeria but the globe. The calls and messages that have being coming in respect of the carnival from overseas is a crystal-clear testimony to this. Like the biblical Joseph, the Dreamer and the former American President J.F Kennedy of the famous speech "I have a dream", Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson had a clear-vision and that vision is Ogbadibo Cultural Carnival. He (Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson) told the world his dream. Some heard it from him (Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson), some heard from friends, some saw it on Social media and others saw it on Newspapers. The news of the carnival came to me (Sunny Green Itodo) from Ghana. Sometime in the near-middle of this year, I received a call from Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson who was then in Ghana) telling me of his plan to organize a cultural carnival in small Ogbadibo. It takes a man of great and uncommon courage to conceive such an idea. I said, no problem, your idea is good but questions must crop in and you must be ready to answer questions and I told him, must question will be, why Otukpa. Otukpa is too small to host such an event, Ogbadibo is not yet ripe for it and Ogbadibo don't deserve it so why not Makurdi or even Otukpo? And the second question will be, there is recession, considering the present national economic situation, where will you get fund from to project such multi-million naira event? And why you comrade Agada? why not all those our big men (politicians)? But against all odds he said, we shall conquer! And we will succeed, I have never met a man like him, if anyone ever demonstrated true courage and Faith (the envidence of things not see but things hope for), then that man is Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson. Like Whistine Churchhill of wartime Britain he hit the ground rolling. Comrade Agada Manex Johnson is a man who needs no introduction, his track-records in the nation's film industry (Nollywood) and his tremendous contributions to the entertainment sector of Idomaland and Benue state at large speaks for him. His engagement in the entertainment industry (movie productions, music labelling, event organizing and beauty pageants) for over seventeen (17) years is enough scorecard for him, even some Nollywood finest cannot speak of their success without mentioning Manex, the likes of stars (Mercy Johnson, Mike Ezeounye, and celebrated Idoma born filmmaker Sunny Okwori and host of others). Through his famous MANEX PRODUCTIONS Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson established the Idoma film industry (IDOMAWOOD) and single-handedly founded the CONFERENCE OF IDOMA FILM PRODUCERS (C.I.F.P) He directed the legendary Idoma movie "IHOTU K'IJE" (The Love of Money) staring popular Idoma born Nollywood actress Ada Ameh. Some of Manex Nollywood movies are DEATH IS A WOMAN (Base on a true life story in Idomaland), HOT STRIKER, PAINFUL WORLD and endless list of fantastic Nollywood movies to his credit. His Manex Productions have successfully organized MISS NORTH CENTRAL and MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN ALIMOSHO (the largest LGA in Lagos) BEAUTY PAGEANTS in the past. CEO of Lagos based MANEX FILM ACCADEMY is an actor of goodwill Like a bush fire in the hammatan so is his consuming love for his fatherland, he is so passionate about Idoma people! Little or no wonder why he brought to the Idoma nation yet another enviable pride project (OGBADIBO CULTURAL CARNIVAL: Benue's Biggest Cultural Event) that will be a digital cultural preservative of Idoma's rich cultural heritage for generations yet unborn and it’s going to be a grand-style to the outside world.