If you think that the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant is the most colourful pageant in the country, it means you have yet to attend the Miss Peace Bayelsa Beauty (MPBB) pageant.
Miss Peace Bayelsa show, indeed, has all the trappings and features of any globally-acclaimed beauty show and more. It is laced with a good dose of Bayelsa’s rich cultural heritage and spiced with local performances in comedy, music and dance. It is, in fact, an all-round entertainment package.
Undoubtedly, the crowd that trooped into the Banquet Hall, Yenagoa on Sunday, to attend the third edition of the yearly event, which is always organised by Providence Global Resources Entertainment Limited (PGR) were not disappointed. They beamed with smiles as they watched the show.
In fact, the audience also understood the significance of the pageant. It is not a mere show. It is tied to the past, future and progress of the state. It is part if the events used to commemorate the Bayelsa Peace Day, the day that signifies the end of militancy in the state.
Before the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson, the Bayelsa Peace Day was celebrated every August 22 to mark the historic August 22, 2009 when militant leaders from the state embraced the amnesty declared by the late President Musa Yar’Adua and gathered at the Peace Park, Yenagoa, to submit their arms.
The disarmament ended hostilities in the state and by extension the Niger Delta region. To remember that day, the state pronounced August 22 a work-free day and instituted a carnival to mark it.
The festivity used to attract all the ex-militant leaders such as Mr. Ebikabowei Victor Ben popularly known as Field Marshall Boyloaf, Eris Paul (Oguboss), Pastor Reuben, General Africa and many others.
But since he came on board, Dickson has failed to mark the Peace Day, a situation that is creating a bad blood between him and the ex-militant leaders.
Despite the alleged deliberate move by Dickson’s administration to “kill” the historic day, the Chief Executive Officer, PGR Entertainment, Mr. Seleipre Tonbie, has continued to host Miss Peace Bayelsa beauty pageant, one leg of the Bayelsa Peace Day.
MPBB is designed to produce a Miss peace, an amiable peace-loving young woman who will help to advance and sustain the hard-earned peace in the state of President Goodluck Jonathan. So, 17 pretty and sexy contestants selected from different parts of the state lined up for this year’s show.
The hall came alive with music and rib-cracking comedies. There was no dull moment for the crowd who applauded heavily and sometimes shouted ecstatically to appreciate the performances of array of artistes paraded at the event.
A group of dancers, the Genesis, from Port-Harcourt with energetic, unique and varied dance steps added ‘swag’ to the occasion. Funny Efizy and MC Aproko were among the rising comedians that drew laughter from the audience.
Then came the girls. Their first outing on the stage sent the audience standing in applause. They danced harmoniously shaking and twisting themselves to a well-rehearsed song formulated to suit the event.
From their first outing, their catwalk to the point where they appeared in their traditional costumes, the picture of those that would make the top 10 became clearer. Not quite long, the judges battled and trimmed the number of the contestants to 10. The number was further reduced to five after the brains of the girls were tested with some questions revolving around peace.
Miss Brass, Miss Ekeremor, Miss Kolo Creek, Miss Alabini and Miss Sagbama made the top five. Expectations grew higher as the audience raised their voices for their favourite contestants.
In fact, there was no doubt in the minds of the audience when the judges came out with their final verdict and declared, Rebecca Hampson (Miss Ekeremor), the 2014 Miss Peace in Bayelsa. She walked home with a brand new car.
She is also to represent Nigeria at the Miss Peace International which is to hold in Lebanon later n the year. In addition, she is to enjoy an all-expense paid luxury trip to Dubai alongside the first runner up Miss Brass who also walked home with N300,000. The trip is sponsored by the owner of Afrinun Oil and Gas and former ex-militant leader, General Africa.
The judges also declared, Deborah Diafa (Miss Alabani), the third runner up and best in cat walking. She is to head for Johannesburg in South Africa to attend the Fashion week; spend four nights at the Michael Angelo Hotel and to get a customised Chelsea shirt signed by Diego Costa. The trip is to be sponsored by the owner of Monimichelle Sports Construction Company, Mr. Ebi Egba.
Moreover, the second runner up, Lucy Cassandra (Miss Kolo Creek), was rewarded with N200,000.
Immediately Miss Ekeremor was announced the winner, her mother and sibling created a spectacle. They shouted in joy, ran round the hall, fell and rolled many times. Tears of joy rolled down their cheeks, amazed at the life-changing moment.
The organiser of the event, Tonbie, the Miss Peace Bayelsa Beauty Pageant is aimed at creating new role models that will serve as an ambassador of peace and enhance a new strength, energy and spirit to advance peace in the state and Niger Delta region.
He recalled: “The Niger Delta region was engulfed in hostilities induced by decades of undeserved official neglect. Although the main base of national health, the communities in the region still rank top in the list of underdeveloped communities in the country. These and other fundamental reasons led to arms struggle.
“However, late Umaru Yar’Adua took the bull by the horn in the region by granting amnesty to militants in the region, thereby opening a new chapter of intellectual dialogue.
“Women and children were mostly the unfortunate victims of the conflicts because of the circumstances beyond their control. The best way to prevent them is to promote healthy and balanced economic and social development in an atmosphere of peace.
“A complete success and sustainable peace building is a function of youth participation. The seeds of tolerance must first be sown right into the minds of children as they grow old. Let us nurture in them respect for existence of individuals of whatever region or ethnic group, nation, gender, colour or socio-economic standard or political belief”.
Tonbie said women were selected to participate in the competition because they are always viewed as the victims of war that should carry the message of peace.
He regretted the nonchalant attitude of the state government to local events wondering why the state tourism agency refused to partake in the Miss Peace event. He lamented that instead of encouraging local programmes, the present administration was busy sponsoring national and international events.
“The government should think twice. They have hosted the Most Beautiful
Girl in Nigeria beauty pageant, the international fashion week and other global events, yet they have refused to identify with local events. The ministry of tourism should think twice and support local events”, he said.
He added: “At PGR Entertainment, our ideology is the knowledge that peace is not a mere absence of war, but a virtue that springs from the force of character. Therefore, the promotion of peace through the emulation of acceptable character representation becomes pertinent via pageantry which showcases young intelligent, talented, creative and beautiful females who believe in their contributions to societal awakening and growth.”
Some dignitaries such as the member representing Kolokuma-Opokuma Constituency 1, Mr. Tonye Isenah; a popular ex-militant leader, General Africa and founder of Monimichelle Sports Construction Facility Company, Mr. Ebi Egba, graced the occasion.
